Question

Olivia grew up in a society where mourners pull out their hair, go into an emotional frenzy, and speak in tongues. On a visit to the United States, she did these things in public when she heard that a relative had died. According to DSM-5, her behavior would be considered:

Answer 1

Answer: Not psychopathological, because it is part of her culture.

Explanation:

DSM-5 (APA, 2013) is the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Whereas the previous edition had an appendix listing culture-bound syndromes, DSM-5 shows a considerably more inclusive summary of psychopathology over the entire world, without focusing only on specific constructs ordinarily found in the US, Western Europe, and Canada. This perspective allows us to have a better comprehension of Olivia´s mourning process.