Cross-cultural Review on Panic Attack: Expression, Causing, and Treatments

Abstract

Panic attack is a long existing and prevalant mental discomforting condition. Reviewing the present field of panic attack and panic disorder, researches and studies are mostly focusing on the Western-based cultures and Western population. Although the Western-based understanding and treatment of panic attack is systematical, it is not always comprehensive in a cross-cultural context. This article discusses the differences of panic attack (and other syndromes with similar symptoms that are believed to be related with panic attack) between Western-culture and several non-Western cultures incorporating manifestations, causation, and possible treatments. Studies about similar syndromes of panic attack in Southeast-Asia, China, Latino communities, and native American communities’ cultural backgrounds are considered. The research has shown multiple findings, including the preference of showing somatic symptoms during the attack in some Asian cultures, and preferences of treatments influenced by different cultural backgrounds. This article also discusses the phenomenon that most theories and studies with general acknowledge of panic attack are based on Western societies and Western cultures, with the tendency of leaving behind related illnesses of non-Western cultures. In order to minimize the gap and bias, researchers are expected to broaden research scope. Psychological professionals are encouraged to accept and integrate various cultural wisdoms in clinical practice.