Culture and Somatization

摘要: Objectives The cross-cultural prevalence of somatization and the limitations current nosology psychiatric theory for interpreting cultural variations in are reviewed. Method Selective review was conducted recent research literature findings from an epidemiological survey ethnographic study help-seeking health care utilization a random sample 2246 residents Canadian urban multicultural milieu. Results Somatization is common all ethnocultural groups societies studied to date. However, significant differences across persist even where there relatively equitable access services. Analysis illness narratives collected diverse suggests that somatic symptoms located multiple systems meaning serve psychological social functions. Depending on circumstances, these can be seen as index disease or disorder, indication psychopathology, symbolic condensation intrapsychic conflict, culturally coded expression distress, medium expressing discontent, mechanism through which patients attempt reposition themselves within their local worlds. Conclusion Major sources among include styles distress ("idioms distress"), ethnomedical belief rooted, each group's relative familiarity with system pathways care. Psychological theories focused individual characteristics must expanded recognize fundamental meanings bodily distress.