Global Study Reveals Cultural Impact on Schizophrenia Treatment, Experiences of “Hearing Voices“
CHENNAI, INDIA – A new investigation into schizophrenia treatment outcomes highlights the significant role culture plays in both the manifestation of the disease and the effectiveness of interventions, especially regarding “negative symptoms” like social withdrawal and emotional flatness. Researcher mal, whose last name was not provided, notes a disparity in treatment success between India and Canada, attributing some of the difference to deeply ingrained cultural norms surrounding family and mental illness.
Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder affecting a person’s ability to think, feel, and behave clearly. While antipsychotic medications effectively manage “positive symptoms” – hallucinations and delusions – they offer limited relief for the debilitating “negative symptoms” that significantly impact quality of life. “Anti-psychotic drugs are useful only in treating positive symptoms, which are symptoms that should not be present, such as delusions or hallucinations,” Mal explained.Negative symptoms represent the absence of expected behaviors,including emotional expression,idea generation,and social interaction. “The effect of medications on these symptoms is very little, if it is found,” Mal stated, adding that negative symptoms, including decreased mood, generally respond poorly to medication.
The study suggests that strong family involvement, common in Indian culture, may mitigate the impact of these negative symptoms. In Chennai, patients rarely attend appointments unaccompanied by family members, a practice researchers believe contributes to improved outcomes.This contrasts with North America,where patient privacy laws and a greater degree of individual independence can led to patients disconnecting from support systems. “The young man in North America can leave his house and cut off his contact more easily if he wants to. But this may lead to worse results,” Mal observed.Furthermore, cultural attitudes toward mental illness influence how families cope. In India,there’s a strong desire to keep mental health issues within the family to avoid stigma,and marriage prospects are a central concern. While Canadian families demonstrate similar levels of care for loved ones, the ability of patients to maintain confidentiality and sever ties presents a challenge.
The research also touches on the culturally relative nature of experiences like “hearing voices.” Drawing a parallel to indigenous Ecuadorian traditions of communicating with the dead, the study suggests that what is considered a symptom of illness can be profoundly shaped by cultural context, prompting a re-evaluation of whether such experiences are inherently pathological. “When we look at how some people around the world celebrate those who hear voices, it may be more natural then we think,” Mal concluded.
