Assessment of PTSD in Non-Western Cultures

Abstract

Assessment of mental ill health among non-Western populations provides a critical pathway to culturally relevant and appropriate models of treatment. Assessment within diverse cultural groups is complicated by a number of factors including differing illness beliefs, idioms of distress, and validity of assessment instruments. Diagnosing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in diverse populations requires cultural awareness, humility, and respect for alternative conceptualizations of suffering. Although PTSD is a commonly experienced disorder following traumatic exposure, for some populations, it may not be the essential diagnosis, or the most appropriate illness concept to capture posttraumatic reactions. This chapter highlights significant guideposts in the field of cross-cultural assessment that can encourage clinicians and researchers to adapt to the changing landscape of trauma assessment globally. A particular emphasis is given to cross-cultural scale adaptation, and how the dominant diagnostic systems incorporate culture.