Question 36#

Stigma associated with mental illness could potentially be reduced by all of the following interventions EXCEPT:

A. Destigmatization campaigns

B. Various measures to combat stigma has shown only modest benefits over the century. Destigmatization campaigns, public education, and vigilant media policy can be helpful. It is clear that in the past few decades, the closure of asylums and psychiatric hospitals has increased community living of patients with mental health problems. But this has not translated into lower rates of stigma and discrimination – if anything this has got worse, assuming different forms.

Reference:

1. Byrne P. Stigma of mental illness and ways of diminishing it. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment 2000; 6: 65–72.

Question 37#

Which of the following is NOT true with respect to stigma against mental illness?

A. Stigma leads to social exclusion

D. Stigma has not reduced in anyway over last two decades in spite of improved literacy rates. The perceived stigma is more generic for mental illness and does vary with the diagnosis to some extent. Stigma leads to delayed help seeking and social exclusion, making outcome worse.

Reference:

1. Byrne P. Stigma of mental illness and ways of diminishing it. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment 2000; 6: 65–72.

Question 38#

The term acculturation refers to which of the following?

A. Adoption of beliefs and values of one cultural group by another

A. Acculturation is a social–anthropological phenomenon which refers to the adoption of cultural practices of one group by another due to the effect of living close to each other. It does not refer to being civilized or non-civilized in cultural practice. The tendency for a cultural group to enforce their values on another group is called assimilation. Acceptance of rules and regulations of a mental health institute is related to the process of institutionalization, described by Goffman.

References:

1. Sadock BJ and Sadock VA. Kaplan & Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry: Behavioral Sciences/Clinical Psychiatry, 10th edn. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007, p. 168.
2. Goffman E. Asylums. Essays on the social situation of mental patients and other inmates. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1961.

Question 39#

Koro is an anxiety state seen most commonly in which of the following geographical zone?

A. Latin America

B. Koro is a culture-bound syndrome that is most often seen as genital retraction anxiety rather than delusional state. It usually affects young males, and is accompanied by anxiety that genitals are shrinking. It is an acute condition with favourable prognosis compared to chronic psychotic illnesses. It is often reported in Malaysia, Taiwan, Philippines, and other parts of south-east Asia. It is referred to as Shook Yang in Japan. Koro literally means head of a turtle (which retracts).

Reference:

1. Gelder MG et al., eds. New Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry. Oxford University Press, 2000, p. 1062.

Question 40#

Which one of the following is a culture-bound syndrome characterized by an exaggerated startle reaction in middle-aged women?

A. Piblokto

B. Latah is a culture-bound syndrome seen mainly in women in south-east Asia. It is characterized by severe startle response together with loss of control over behaviour, echolalia, and echopraxia. Such patients are noted to obey any commands issued to them.

Reference:

1. Gelder MG et al., eds. New Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry. Oxford University Press, 2000, p. 1063.