火病国家救済委員会　本部

LITERATURE REVIEW
HB as a Culture-Bound Syndrome
Every cultural group has beliefs and behaviors relevant to
health and illness. Therefore, the relationship between culture
and health beliefs and behaviors needs to be established
through cross-cultural research. The theoretical review of the
culture-bound syndromes reveals the link between the human
body as a biophysiological entity and the body as a symbol in
a cultural system (Baer, Clark, & Peterson, 1998). Research
on culture-bound syndromes is important inasmuch as the
cultural diversity of persons seeking mental health care in
American society is increasing (Guarnaccia&Rogler, 1999).
Immigrants bring with them their own indigenous patterns
and conceptions of mental illness, some of which are structured
into cultural syndromes. Health care providers serving
an increasingly culturally diverse population need to know
more about such syndromes. The inclusion of the Glossary of
Culture-Bound Syndromes in the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders蜂V (DSM-IV) increases the
manual痴 cross-cultural usefulness at home and abroad, provided
that it is supported by culturally based research.