Significance of cultural beliefs in presentation of psychiatric illness: a case report of selective mutism in a man from Nepal.
A 22-year-old active duty E1 Nepalese male who recently emigrated from Nepal suddenly exhibited strange behaviors and mutism during Advanced Individual Training. After receiving care from a hospital near his unit, he was transferred to Walter Reed Army Medical Center Inpatient Psychiatry for further evaluation and treatment. Although he was admitted with a diagnosis of psychosis not otherwise specified (NOS), after consideration of cultural factors and by ruling out concurrent thought disorder, a diagnosis of selective mutism was made. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of selective mutism in a soldier. This case serves as a reminder of the need for cultural awareness during psychological evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients.
Department of Psychiatry, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20307-5001, USA.
Sarkis
S
Babikian
Lyndal
L
Emerson
Gary H
GH
Wynn
D000328:Adult; D003469:Culture; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D009155:Mutism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009390:Nepal; D014481:United States