Somatization in Non-English-Speaking Individuals
Kyle Brauer Boone in Neuropsychological Evaluation of Somatoform and Other Functional Somatic Conditions, 2017
In general, for individuals with more than 8 years of formal education, little if any difference was noted between non-English and English speakers as far as narrative of distress. In other words, these individuals are for the most part able to express their difficulties (real or imaginary, honest or exaggerated) efficiently and in adequate detail regardless of their language and regardless of the country where education was received (Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Haiti). The structured interview elicits responses from these individuals that are thought to be no different from those of mainstream US residents with otherwise similar characteristics and presenting problems. Similarly, there are no discernible differences in responses to questionnaires, and symptom endorsement. Neither has this author ever had reason to suspect one of those much touted “cultural syndromes” in individuals with these characteristics. For example, the oft-cited Hispanic syndrome known as “ataque de nervios” has never been reported by a Spanish-speaking individual with a reasonably high level of education (8 or more years) in this author’s practice. Also, incidentally, reports of “nervios” by individuals in the lower levels of education are relatively rare. This author suspects that the use of this term is possibly overused by ill-informed clinicians who may believe that the term has a meaning other than conveying drama in soap operas.
Counseling Parents and Children with HIV
David M. Aronstein, Bruce J. Thompson in HIV and Social Work, 2014
Ataque de nervios, a culturally condoned occurrence referring to a form of distress most frequently seen in Hispanic women, is triggered by an event or situation which feels overwhelming. Reported symptoms, while often brief and self-limited, include severe panic, amnesia, seizure-like movements, and/or may resemble a brief psychotic disorder. Since ataque de nervios is often seen in medical and clinical settings, it is essential that the social worker be aware of the existence and symptoms of this disorder. Such awareness will help clarify symptomatology that may indicate a coexisting disorder and promote the design of appropriate psychosocial interventions (Oquendo, 1995).
The mind-body connection: patients with somatic complaints with no organic cause
Julie M Schirmer MSW, Alain J Montegut MD, Stephen J Spann MD, Gabriel Ivbijaro MD, Alfred Loh MD in Behavioral Medicine in Primary Care, 2017
The first scenario is typical of ataque de nervios, a condition commonly found in Latin American countries.3 The ataque is similar to a prolonged panic attack with physical ramifications. It can include feeling out of control, crying, trembling, amnesia, verbal or physical aggression, and uncontrollable shouting. It is associated with stress within the family and is considered by many to be a physical manifestation of “soul trauma.”
A confirmatory factor analysis of the beck anxiety inventory in Latinx primary care patients
Published in International Journal of Mental Health, 2020
Lorraine T. Benuto, Martha Zimmermann, Frances R. Gonzalez, Andrea Corral Rodríguez
The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) is a commonly used self-report inventory that assesses anxiety in both clinical (Nestler et al., 2015; Vázquez Morejón et al., 2014) and non-clinical groups (Ediz et al., 2017; Lee & Kim, 2019). The BAI is available in multiple languages, including Spanish (Beck & Steer, 2011) although challenges in using measures created for a non-English speaking population exist. Assessing anxiety among Latinxs is complex given the wide range of cultural idioms of distress that are used to describe anxiety. For example, nervios and ataque de nervios are two distinct idioms that have been linked to anxiety (Guarnaccia et al., 2003, 2010; Hinton et al., 2008, 2009). These complexities are concerning given the high rates of anxiety among Latinxs; 6–17% of Latinxs experience symptoms of anxiety in their lifetime (Alegría et al., 2007; Asnaani et al., 2010; Wassertheil-Smoller et al., 2014). The complexities associated with assessing anxiety has prompted some researchers to study anxiety using a psychometric approach.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
- Dissociative Identity Disorder
- Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
- Culture-Bound Syndrome
- Panic Attack
- Dissociation
- Mental Disorder
- Susto
- Hwabyeong
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder