Assessing Culture-Bound Syndromes Among Asian-Americans

Mental Health of Asian American Older Adults: Contemporary Issues and Future Directions

“…Cultural syndromes have been defined as psychiatric symptom clusters more likely to express or be confined to specific cultures ( Ventriglio et al, 2016 ). As conceptualizations and symptom presentations of mental disorders are deeply rooted in the unique cultural heritage of diverse ethnic or cultural groups ( American Psychiatric Association, 2000 ), several studies have reported culture-specific syndromes commonly present in certain Asian ethnic groups, such as Dhat syndrome (South Asians), Khyâl cap (Cambodians), Shenjing Shuairuo (Chinese), Taijin-Kyofusho (Japanese), and Hwabyung (Korean; American Psychiatric Association, 2000, 2013 ; Yeh et al, 2014 ). For example, Dhat syndrome is diagnosed as semen-loss anxiety in Indian subcontinent countries ( Sumathipala et al, 2004 ); Khyâl cap is considered an anxiety disorder related to the disturbance of “inner wind” and blood among Cambodians ( Hofmann & Hinton, 2014 ); Shenjing Shuairuo (the Chinese term for neurasthenia) is a depressive-like syndrome that is characterized by somatic and psychological complaints in China ( Chang et al, 2005 ); Taijin-Kyofusho is a form of social anxiety described as the fear of interpersonal relationships involving excessive fear of offending others ( Essau et al, 2012 ); and lastly, Hwabyung is a cluster of physical illness (fatigue, heart palpitation, or indigestion) and emotional problems (anxiety or depression) among Koreans (J.…”

“…Notably, these Asian culture-bound syndromes often reflect how shared cultural norms across Asian ethnic groups—emotional suppression and somatization, the notion of strong mind and body connection, and interdependence ( Yeh et al, 2014 )—are represented as unique symptoms. Especially, some culture-bound syndromes are frequently displayed among older Asian Americans.…”