Cultural considerations in the diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia: A case example from India

Saranya Dhanasekaran; Santosh Loganathan; Ajit Dahale; Mathew Varghese

doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2017.02.019

Cultural considerations in the diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia: A case example from India

Asian J Psychiatr. 2017 Jun:27:113-114. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2017.02.019. Epub 2017 Mar 3.

Authors

Saranya Dhanasekaran¹, Santosh Loganathan², Ajit Dahale², Mathew Varghese²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore 560029, India. Electronic address: saranya296@gmail.com.
² Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore 560029, India.

PMID: 28558880
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2017.02.019

Abstract

Culture plays an important role in the presentation, help seeking, treatment and outcomes of psychiatric illnesses like schizophrenia. We report a case of paranoid schizophrenia in a 35-year-old lady, from South India, whose clinical presentation was influenced by various sociocultural factors. These cultural constructs were taken into consideration to formulate an acceptable and effective management plan. A detailed case description using a cultural formulation to highlight the etic and emic perspectives and challenges in treatment and management are discussed.

Keywords: Cultural considerations; India; Schizophrenia.

Publication types

Case Reports
Letter

MeSH terms

Adult
Culturally Competent Care
Female
Humans
India / ethnology
Schizophrenia, Paranoid / diagnosis
Schizophrenia, Paranoid / ethnology*
Schizophrenia, Paranoid / therapy