Culture and Mental Illness

Does schizophrenia exist all over the world? Does depression look different in India than it does in the United States? Why was hysteria so widely diagnosed in England during the latter part of the 19th century, and why did this diagnosis seem to fade out of fashion? This semester-long lecture will explore the role played by culture in the experience, expression, definition, and treatment of mental illness. Together, we will explore mental illness as both a subjective (and yet culturally informed) experience and a social process. We will also examine the ways in which mental illness in the West has become both an object of knowledge and a site of intervention. We will consider the strengths and weaknesses of the DSM classification system and critically assess what it refers to as “culture-bound syndromes,” such as koro, zar spirit possession, latah, nervios, and susto. What makes these more “culture-bound” than, say, Borderline Personality Disorder or PTSD? Finally, we will learn about a number of culturally informed modes of therapy and look closely at the doctor/patient (or healer/patient) encounter in a variety of settings.