Differences in the understanding and classification of illnesses cross-culturally can lead to misunderstandings in clinical settings and difficulties in research with culturally diverse populations. Classification of mental illness is especially problematic in that biomedical disease categories are based on assumptions influenced by western culture which may not be shared cross-culturally. Psychiatric diagnostic categories need to be investigated in a cross-cultural context with multiple ethnic groups, using methodologies that incorporate emic categories. Such an opportunity is presented by the availability of data from a multi-ethnic study of public attitudes, based on a sample of 100 respondents from 5 different ethnic groups Puerto-Rican, Mexican-, Chinese-, African-, and European-American) in New York City and Los Angeles. In-depth, open-ended interviews focus on respondents' understandings of mental problems, and views about causation, recovery, and help-seeking strategies. In addition, two hypothetical individuals are described, each displaying classic symptoms of either major depression or of schizophrenia, and respondents are asked to define the nature of the problem and suggest appropriate help-seeking and treatment strategies. We also assess how genetic information may influence their conceptualization of the condition. This paper presents preliminary findings regarding lay conceptions of mental illness, including terminology, views about causation and recovery, and appropriate help-seeking and treatment strategies. Concepts of mental illness will be compared in different ethnic groups and the influence of culture, ethnicity and other demographic variables on illness concepts will be discussed. We will also explore the impact of differing culture-based illness concepts on help-seeking strategies.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to recognize variation in mental illness constructs in different ethnic groups, and develop more culturally competent strategies of treatment.
Keywords: Migrant Health, Culture
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.