The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) uses factor analysis to group people with similar self-reported symptoms (i.e., like-goes-with-like). It is hailed as a significant improvement over other diagnostic taxonomies. However, the purported advantages and fundamental assumptions HiTOP have received little, if any scientific scrutiny. We critically evaluated five claims about HiTOP. conclude that does not demonstrate high degree verisimilitude has potential hinder progress on...

Medical anthropologists working with global health agendas must develop transdisciplinary frameworks to communicate their work. This article explores two similar but underutilized theoretical in medical anthropology, and discusses how they facilitate new insights about the relationships between epidemiological patterns individual-level illness experiences. Two cases from our fieldwork New Delhi Chicago are presented illustrate syndemics chronicity theories explain epidemic problems of...

This issue of Transcultural Psychiatry showcases some recent work on idioms distress – the latest in a long line anthropological research concerned with cross-cultural concepts and experiences distress. Mark Nichter’s (1981) seminal paper introducing has become cynosure for psychological anthropology transcultural psychiatry. A growing body since accumulated; however, last time collection such was brought together 2010 publication special journal Culture, Medicine organized by Devon Hinton...

In their response to our article (both in this issue), DeYoung and colleagues did not sufficiently address three fundamental flaws with the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP). First, HiTOP was created using a simple-structure factor-analytic approach, which does adequately represent dimensional space symptoms psychopathology. Consequently, is empirical structure Second, factor analysis ratings do fix problems inherent descriptive (folk) classification; self-reported are still...

Cross-cultural studies of mental health and illness generally adhere to one two agendas: the comparison between sites using standard measurement tools, or identification locally specific ways discussing illness. Here, we illustrate a methodological approach measuring that unites these agendas. Using examples from our work in India Haiti, show how researchers can use mixed methods identify idioms distress, develop derived tools measure them, evaluate psychometric properties contextualize...

Abstract This report describes preliminary findings about the connections between type 2 diabetes, mental health, and normative social roles among women living in Delhi, India. We conducted freelist interviews with 62 diabetic nondiabetic women's roles, perceptions of "tension," a common Hindi-language idiom used to express stress. Using results, we produced then administered questionnaire pilot sample 33 women. Among women, physical symptoms diabetes predicted higher biomedical anxiety...

We explored the relationship between mental health and type 2 diabetes among women in New Delhi, India, 2011.

Food insecurity has traditionally been characterized as a driver of health disparities because its potential impacts on nutritional status. Food, however, important social and cultural valences that make it much more than vehicle. Recent research is sensitive to the meanings food drawn attention complex far‐reaching mental effects insecurity. In this article, we outline several theoretical pathways linking reduced physical well‐being, then present results preliminary study in rural Brazil...

The biomedical definition of comorbidity belies the complexity its lived experience. This article draws on case studies women with diabetes and various comorbidities in New Delhi, India, to explore intergenerational transactions surrounding suffering contexts comorbidity. analysis synthesizes sociological theories chronic disease work, psychological caregiver burnout, anthropological approaches legitimacy how, when, by whom women's comorbid sources become routinized everyday life....

Cycles of chronic illness are unpredictable, especially when multiple conditions involved, and that instability can transform “normal” everyday life for individuals their families. This article employs a theory “comorbid suffering” to interpret how concurrent diagnoses produce webs remarkable suffering. We collected 50 stories from breast cancer survivors enrolled in the South Africa Breast Cancer Study. present three women’s narratives who grapple with comorbid suffering illness-related...

Women's health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has historically focused on sexual reproductive health. However, understanding how women acquire, experience, treat non-reproductive conditions, such as non-communicable diseases, become a fundamental public concern. Special attention to the social determinants of LMIC women's can provide socially culturally relevant knowledge for implementation policies programs increasingly confronting these 'New Challenge Diseases'. This article...

India's National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) reports a treatment gap for common mental disorders of over 85 percent, which they attribute to lack awareness and access psychiatric services in India. Interventions aiming close that through task-sharing have gained significant traction India, but met with mixed success, particularly long-term perspective. We critically examined the fundamental assumptions embedded NMHS report health results from people India lacking medium-sized Indian city....

Research premised on the construct of idioms distress has proliferated in last 40 years. The aim this work is to foreground experiential and socially adaptive functions cultural expressions around world. Researchers who field often begin from very different starting points terms their prior knowledge research context, interest theoretical or applied implications work, target areas that they study. While multiplicity approaches ensures literature captures diverse manifestations suffering, it...

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) is linked to deleterious foetal and neonate outcomes. Maternal exposure ZIKV through mosquitoes sexual fluids creates a public health challenge for communities policymakers, which exacerbated by high levels of chronic non-communicable diseases in American Samoa.Aim: This study aimed identify structural barriers prevention Samoa situate them within locally relevant cultural epidemiological contexts.Subjects methods: assessed knowledge, attitudes access among 180...