Culture-Bound Syndromes
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is currently undergoing an update and one specific section causing some controversy is an appendix on culture-bound syndromes: mental illnesses that, in theory, occur only within a specific society.
One of the more well-documented culture-bound syndromes is Hyperstartle Syndrome, widely observed in Malaysia, where its sufferers are referred to as latahs. When startled a latah can go into a prolonged state of surprise, with uncontrollable physical tics, blurting out offensive phrases, and later remembering nothing. Another is known as “Amok” (and the orgin of the phrase “running amok”), where a person goes into a sudden and sometimes homicidal rage. Another, Koro, results in its sufferers believing their genitals are receding into their bodies or have been stolen.
These illnesses are controversial because they question the nature of the West’s notion of mental illness, which is largely based on a biological model — that is, it assumes mental orders arise from neurological disorder, and should be universal. Even in the West this model’s shortcomings can be observed in disorders like anorexia nervosa, suffered almost exclusively by Western women. Culture-bound syndromes suggest a person’s environment can breed mental illnesses specific to their culture, that can’t necessarily be treated with medication.
The current version of the DSM lists 25 known culture-bound syndromes, but some scholars believe as many as 175 could exist. If the critics get their way, the next version, expected in 2013, may not list any of them.
