Mental disorder and cross-cultural psychology: a constructivist perspective

The predominant Western approach to understanding mental disorder, as indicated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), is based on a biomedical perspective which sees mental disorders as "natural kinds" or discrete entities which manifest as dysfunction within individuals. Following from this is the view that the DSM's primary syndromes are universal, based on the assumption that this dysfunction is similar across diverse human populations. The cross-cultural literature, however, reveals significant differences in the manifestation of these syndromes across ethnic groups, thereby challenging the universalist position. In response to this shortcoming of the predominant contemporary conceptualization of mental disorder, a constructivist approach is offered which, it is argued, has a number of important advantages over the traditional view. Finally, the implications of a constructivist definition are discussed, demonstrating the important connection between theory and practice.