title: Anorexia nervosa in a girl of Chinese origin: psychological, somatic and transcultural factors.
abstract: The increased prevalence of anorexia nervosa reported in non-Western societies inevitably raises the issue of the influence of cultural factors in the genesis and the patterns of this disorder. Anorexia nervosa is not a straightforward Western culture-bound syndrome, although an influence of Western ideals of thinness does exist. The illness seems more related to rapid cultural shifts, either societal or individual, such as those occurring in the migratory process. Migrants and their children have to face the acculturation process and may experience a culture-clash. The pathology can also fulfil a positive acculturative function. This is a case study concerning a second-generation Chinese girl born in France presenting with anorexia nervosa. This case leads us to raise the issue of the choice of diagnostic criteria in relation to cultural background. We will also discuss the impact of the family's migratory history on the construction of identity in adolescence. Finally we will explore the specific features of care provision for anorexia nervosa in a transcultural setting.
authors.affiliation: Maison de Solenn - Maison des Adolescents de Cochin, AP-HP, Unité INSERM 669, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France.
authors.forename: Mélissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demarque
authors.affiliation: Maison de Solenn - Maison des Adolescents de Cochin, AP-HP, Unité INSERM 669, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France gguzmancl@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guzman
authors.affiliation: Maison de Solenn - Maison des Adolescents de Cochin, AP-HP, Unité INSERM 669, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France.
authors.forename: Elodie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.affiliation: Maison de Solenn - Maison des Adolescents de Cochin, AP-HP, Unité INSERM 669, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France Unité de Psychopathologie de l'Adolescent, Hôpital Louis Pasteur, Dole, France.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahovi
authors.affiliation: Maison de Solenn - Maison des Adolescents de Cochin, AP-HP, Unité INSERM 669, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France.
authors.forename: Marie Rose
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.affiliation: Maison de Solenn - Maison des Adolescents de Cochin, AP-HP, Unité INSERM 669, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France.
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blanchet-Collet
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D044466:Asian People; D001828:Body Image; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
keywords: Anorexia nervosa; acculturation; adolescence; cultural affiliation; identity; migration; transcultural psychiatry