title: Culture and assessment of manic symptoms.
abstract: Cultural background may influence the perception of psychiatric symptoms. We examined the effects of cultural biases on the identification of manic symptoms using the Young Mania Rating Scale. Two video interviews, each with an American person with mania, were shown to psychiatrists from three countries (US, UK and India). Total scores on the scale differed significantly between the US and UK (P<0.001) and between India and UK (P<0.001) rater groups. Overall, differences between India and US rater groups were less marked (P=0.28). These differences suggest that cultural biases influence the interpretation of manic symptoms.
authors.affiliation: School of Neurology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK. paul.mackin@ncl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mackin
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Targum
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalali
authors.forename: Dror
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rom
authors.forename: Allan H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015982:Bias; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D003469:Culture; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards