Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders: Cultural Factors

[Page 2944]Schizophrenia spectrum disorders constitute a diagnostic classification of a continuum of psychotic disorders including schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, and brief psychotic disorder, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Defined by the experience of positive symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech and behavior, as well as negative symptoms including flattened affect, social withdrawal, and decreased experience of pleasure, schizophrenia can significantly affect a person’s daily functioning. Because schizophrenia is categorized as a heterogeneous disorder in which symptom constellation may vary from person to person, researchers have sought to explain the possible mechanisms for these differences. One approach has been to determine if the experience of schizophrenia symptoms is consistent across cultures or if ...