title: Dissociation and symptoms of culture-bound syndromes in North America: a preliminary study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine whether classical culture-bound syndromes occur among psychiatric inpatients with dissociative disorders in North America. The Dissociative Trance Disorder Interview Schedule, the Dissociative Experiences Scale, and the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule were administered to 100 predominantly Caucasian, American, English-speaking trauma program inpatients at a hospital in the United States. The participants reported high rates of childhood physical and/or sexual abuse (87%), dissociative disorders (73%), and membership in the dissociative taxon (78%). They also reported a wide range of possession experiences and exorcism rituals, as well as the classical culture-bound syndromes of latah, bebainan, amok, and pibloktoq. Our data are consistent with the view that possession and classical culture-bound syndromes are predominantly dissociative in nature and not really culture-bound from the perspective of Caucasian, English-speaking America.
authors: The Colin A. Ross Institute for Psychological Trauma, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA. rossinst@rossinst.com
authors: Colin A
authors: CA
authors: Ross
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Schroeder
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Ness
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008016:Life Change Events; D008273:Magic / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D013577:Syndrome; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology; D018599:Witchcraft / Q000523:psychology