Culture and ICD-11 personality disorder: Implications for clinical practice across diverse ethnic groups

Personality disorder (PD) in ICD-11 is defined primarily by self and interpersonal dysfunction and optionally by other qualifiers. This definition is inseparable from relativism of cultural determinants.

This review aimed to synthesize the relevant aspects of the influence of culture on clinical practice and health management for this condition, aligning them to the ICD-11 PD model.

In Scopus, we systematically searched for studies that included the text strings: cultur* | personality AND (disorder* OR patholog*) without any restrictions on publication date or language or other exclusion criteria, up to November 2022.

Evidence suggests that cultural variables in ethnic groups (Western and non-Western) such as the individualist/collectivist philosophy, historical/generational trauma, immigration, acculturation, religion, and gender influence the etiology, semiology, epidemiology, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and management of health services for ICD-11 PD. We discuss the limitations and propose future lines of research on this topic based on our knowledge and experience. In this review, we provide the scientific community and clinicians with relevant cultural information to guide their practice and propose strategies to manage PD from the ICD-11 model.

More research is needed using mixed study methodologies on stigma, the experiences of patients, clinicians, and health agencies, to reduce the care gaps and achieve a culturally comprehensive, inclusive, and competent use of this new model.