Culture Bound Syndromes

Paper: Culture Bound Syndromes

Mental illness is also culturally relative and is expressed differently in different regions of the world. A culture bound syndrome is a collection of signs and symptoms restricted to a particular culture or region and may occur as a result to the social pressures of a particular culture. Culture-specific syndrome, or folk illness, are a combination of psychiatric and somatic symptoms that are considered to be a recognizable disease only within that specific society or culture. The rate of an illness also varies. For example, some mental illness disorders are more prevalent in women, like Latah, while other disorders like Koro are more prevalent in men.

These disorders used to be called “exotic psychotic disorders”, until we realized that here in the United States, we have culture bound syndromes just like the rest of the world. Anorexia and bulimia found predominantly in women of Western European countries are media driven mental diseases. For this assignment, research a culture bound syndrome and write a 1-page paper that discusses why this particular illness is found in a region, the rate of the illness, and what traditional treatments are used to cure it. Lastly, discuss how Western bio-medicine might diagnose and treat this illness. Suggested due date: October 18.

REQUIREMENTS:

Make sure to answer ALL the questions in the assignment.
Please upload paper into drop box in Brightspace under Historical Figures.
Paper must be at least 1 page in length, and no more than 2 pages.
Use 12 font., times new roman, all margins 1 “.
Double space all text.
REMEMBER: use specific ethnographic material to support general statements. Without specific examples, the best score you can receive is a C+.
Paper must include an introduction with a thesis statement and a conclusion.
Avoid using direct quotes. Paraphrase information and cite text used.

GRADING CRITERIA:

Follow paper requirements as stated above.
Overall organization of the paper and the clarity in the presentation of the analysis.
Extant of thoughtful, insightful, and creative analysis.
Correct, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Proofread your papers.
Papers that are submitted to me 1 week in advance to the due date I will help with and edit, one time before the final paper is submitted.