Abstract
The relationship of culture to chronic mental illness is reviewed in a cross-national and cross-ethnic perspective. The author critically examines the argument, based on differential prognosis for serious mental illness in developing and industrial countries, that chronicity is a cultural artifact. Key questions include whether cultural beliefs and practices that minimize social stigma, self-divaluation, and patients' assumption of the sick role are linked to better prognosis. World view, religion, alternative healing resources, alues of interdependence, extended kinship structure, family support, and professionals' willingness to work collaboratively with families are viewed as cultural strengths that may help to mediate the course of mental illness. Issues that are relevant to treatment of long-term psychiatric disability in ethnic patients in the United States include interethnic differences in the distribution of cases and service utilization patterns, diagnostic and medication issues, and development of culturally relevant treatment modalities.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 277-286 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Hospital and Community Psychiatry |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| State | Published - Jan 1 1990 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
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Culture and chronic mental illness. / Lefley, H. P.
In: Hospital and Community Psychiatry, Vol. 41, No. 3, 01.01.1990, p. 277-286.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Culture and chronic mental illness
AU - Lefley, H. P.
PY - 1990/1/1
Y1 - 1990/1/1
N2 - The relationship of culture to chronic mental illness is reviewed in a cross-national and cross-ethnic perspective. The author critically examines the argument, based on differential prognosis for serious mental illness in developing and industrial countries, that chronicity is a cultural artifact. Key questions include whether cultural beliefs and practices that minimize social stigma, self-divaluation, and patients' assumption of the sick role are linked to better prognosis. World view, religion, alternative healing resources, alues of interdependence, extended kinship structure, family support, and professionals' willingness to work collaboratively with families are viewed as cultural strengths that may help to mediate the course of mental illness. Issues that are relevant to treatment of long-term psychiatric disability in ethnic patients in the United States include interethnic differences in the distribution of cases and service utilization patterns, diagnostic and medication issues, and development of culturally relevant treatment modalities.
AB - The relationship of culture to chronic mental illness is reviewed in a cross-national and cross-ethnic perspective. The author critically examines the argument, based on differential prognosis for serious mental illness in developing and industrial countries, that chronicity is a cultural artifact. Key questions include whether cultural beliefs and practices that minimize social stigma, self-divaluation, and patients' assumption of the sick role are linked to better prognosis. World view, religion, alternative healing resources, alues of interdependence, extended kinship structure, family support, and professionals' willingness to work collaboratively with families are viewed as cultural strengths that may help to mediate the course of mental illness. Issues that are relevant to treatment of long-term psychiatric disability in ethnic patients in the United States include interethnic differences in the distribution of cases and service utilization patterns, diagnostic and medication issues, and development of culturally relevant treatment modalities.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 2179100
AN - SCOPUS:0025274707
VL - 41
SP - 277
EP - 286
JO - Psychiatric Services
JF - Psychiatric Services
SN - 1075-2730
IS - 3
ER -