Some Diagnostic Problems In Mental Health Field

Misdiagnoses often occur because of cultural, age differences, manner of speech and slang.  They are problems which crop up making a diagnosis difficult.  In certain cultures what may be considered acceptable behavior or normal for the people, such as anorexia, which is more frequently found in America and is tied to the American viewpoint of a female’s body image.

Spirit possession is common in Africa and other parts of the world with hallucinations that in the United States is considered to being psychotic symptoms, however, they are a group belief and in that group are normal.

The different speech patterns associated with age and slang used by the younger generation often causes misdiagnosis.  The term “going out” may be mistaken by an older professional as having agoraphobia, the fear of open spaces, and has the problem of going out of a dwelling.  To the younger generation the term “going out” means to party or go to a club or a dance.

The cultures of ethnic minorities influence many aspects of mental illness, including how patients from other cultures communicate and express their symptoms, their coping skills, their family and community supports, and their willingness to seek treatment. The cultures of the doctor and the service organization influence diagnosis, treatment. Cultural and social influences play important roles in the ability to properly address a person’s mental state and subsequently the outcome of treatment.