Ethnocultural Aspects of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Issues, Research, and Clinical Applications

In recent years, the concept of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has captured the attention and concern of clinicians and scientists, and reactions to traumatic stress have been extensively studied. But are such reactions universal? Although the PTSD diagnosis is now used internationally, it is by no means clear whether it is meaningful across cultures and ethnic groups. Most of the research and clinical experience validating the diagnosis has been carried out in Western industrialized nations, and some clinicians have raised the question of ethnocentric bias in its formulation. This volume presents a systematic evaluation of ethnocultural aspects of PTSD. Leaders in the field of PTSD research and practice explore both universal and culture-specific reactions to trauma and discuss implications for research, treatment and prevention. This multidisciplinary perspective should be useful to a broad audience of psychologists, psychiatrists, anthropologists, epidemiologists, sociologists and social workers.