G H 446 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Pharmacotherapy, Structural Violence, Mental Disorder
● Mental illness can differ across cultures
● Cartesian dualism: promoted in the west, where mind and body are distinct
○ Ex: physical pain can be result from stress or anxiety
● Idioms of distress: terms used to describe experience of illness, distinct across cultures
Culture Bound Syndromes
● These syndromes were only observed in certain cultures
● Ataque de nervios: recognized by many Latin American groups
○ Uncontrollable attacks of shouting, crying after stressful event
○ Heat in chest rising into head
Treatments
● In the U.S, there are pharmacotherapy treatments and behavioral treatments
● There can also be local/traditional forms of treatment
○ Ex: acupuncture, yoga, meditation, traditional herbs
○ Less evidence based, can just be placebo
● Evidence based treatments have been proven effective in high income countries
● Seldom have effective interventions been adapted and tested in other countries
(low/middle income countries)
● Research priorities should fall into
○ Testing and implementing evidence-based treatments (EBT)
○ Adapt, test and implement EBTs
○ Test locally-based treatments
Stigma
● People with mental illness misunderstood as lazy, weak, or dangerous
● In actuality, more likely to be the victims of violence rather than the perpetrators
Lack of Gov Action
● 85% of people with mental illness don’t receive care in middle or low income countries
Document Summary
Cartesian dualism: promoted in the west, where mind and body are distinct. Ex: physical pain can be result from stress or anxiety. Idioms of distress: terms used to describe experience of illness, distinct across cultures. These syndromes were only observed in certain cultures. Ataque de nervios: recognized by many latin american groups. Uncontrollable attacks of shouting, crying after stressful event. In the u. s, there are pharmacotherapy treatments and behavioral treatments. There can also be local/traditional forms of treatment. Less evidence based, can just be placebo. Evidence based treatments have been proven effective in high income countries. Seldom have effective interventions been adapted and tested in other countries (low/middle income countries) People with mental illness misunderstood as lazy, weak, or dangerous. In actuality, more likely to be the victims of violence rather than the perpetrators. 85% of people with mental illness don"t receive care in middle or low income countries. War and conflict: independence and partition; disputes with pakistan and china.
