Rooyesh-e- Ravanshenasi Journal(RRJ)

A review of previous papers makes it evident that mental disorder is considered to be the product of multiple factors. Among multiple factors involved in psychopathology, this article examines the role of culture. Cultural practices and beliefs may influence coping with psychological distress and sometimes assist to cope with mental disorder. On the other hand these cultural factors can be the source of distress and conflict and underlie the mental disorders. The influence of cultural factors in psychopathology is the extent to which even the expression of psychological symptoms and seeking to treatment are influenced by person's cultural setting. Furthermore, these cultural influences can pose a challenge for mental health professionals. The psychologist's task is to assess, formulate, diagnose and intervene effectively in the context of mental disorders.  For the interventions to be effective, they should be culturally appropriate, acceptable and also ethical. To plan a effective treatment and relevant to cultural setting, professionals should consider the client's cultural setting for assessment and treatment of psychological disorders. In this article, it's tried to examine the role of culture in etiology, Presentation of symptoms and Treatment Seeking. Cultural considerations in the assessment and treatment of mental disorders have also been studied.