Ethnocultural aspects of posttraumatic stress disorder

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 the diagnosis 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 richly documented, edited volume is the first systematic examination 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. The multidisciplinary perspective of the book will appeal to a broad audience of psychologists, psychiatrists, anthropologists, epidemiologists, sociologists, and social workers.