Culture and personality disorders-a case series

Abstract

Introduction

Personality disorders comprise a set of diagnosis characterized by inflexible, pervasive and enduring patterns of cognition, affect, behavioural and social interaction. The status of research on the personality among different cultures implies the universality of traits and disorders, as well as, their measuresacross cultures.

Objectives

To study the prevalence of personality disorders in foreigner patients.

Methods

In this retrospective case series, clinicaldata was collected from 40 patients who were hospitalized at the short-stay inpatient psychiatric service of the Príncipe de Asturias University Hospital during 2018.

Results

Nineteen (47.5%) patients were European, ten (25%) were from South America, nine (22.5%) were Africanand two (5%) were Asian. Eight patients were diagnosed of diverse personality disorders. Seven (87.5%) of them were European, and only one (12.5%) was from South America.

Conclusions

This case series suggests various directions for future research. The fact that patients diagnosed with personalitydisorders were mainly European could indicate diverse conclusions. It would question the universality of personality disorders out of a Euro-american frame of reference. It would also point out the difficulty of diagnosing personality disorders, taking into consideration language, awareness of cultural values,traditions, interactional patterns, and social norms. More studies of traits and personality are needed, taking into account the culture and the society in which patients have grown and in which they currently live.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.