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Chapter
Introduction
Psychiatric science defines depression with a fixed set of symptom manifestations, presumed to be universal across cultures, while different studies have documented the presence of variation in manifestations ...
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Chapter
Metaphors of Depression
As a complex disorder that encompasses a wide range of physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms, depression gives rise to experiences that are often difficult to express. Due to this complexity, and especial...
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Chapter
Interpersonal Relationships I: Impersonal Interpersonal
Disturbances to interpersonal relationships are an important part of experiences of depression and in Iran, as a collectivist culture, this importance is seen ever more clearly. Focusing on the tensions in the...
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Chapter
The Body in Depression
Somatisation as an aspect of cultural variation in mental disorders has been widely studied. Less has been offered by way of explaining how culture influences presentation with somatic symptoms. Acknowledging ...
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Chapter
Concluding Remarks
Broad implications of the study for psychiatry and phenomenology are outlined. Findings of the study bring under question the claim to universality of psychiatry as a science, consequently casting doubt on psy...
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Book
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Chapter
The Iranian Context
Important pillars of Iranian culture and the current social makeup of Iran are detailed as sha** the background against which experiences of depression take on a uniquely cultural form and meaning. Shi’ism a...
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Chapter
Death-Consciousness and Absurdity
Within Iranian culture awareness of death is encouraged and woven into everyday understanding of life and lived experiences. This death-conscious culture can be traced in religious belief system, works of lite...
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Chapter
Interpersonal Relationships II: Personal Interpersonal
Some of the cross-cultural variations in symptoms and experiences of depression are those seen in the personal domains of relationship and which arise due to the spilling over of the perceived lack of empathy ...
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Chapter
Culture, Experiences and Narratives, and the Problem of Interpretation
The preceding chapters offer case studies of instances where cultural conceptions are shown to play a role in how a phenomenon is experienced and communicated. Here the aim is to offer a theoretical sketch for...