A Comparative Review of Western Versus African Reactions to Traumatic Events and Treatments for Post Traumatic Stress

There have been recent debates on the universality of posttraumatic stress as defined by the DSM-IV-TR. Many claim that traumatic events are diffuse across cultures and therefore Post Traumatic Stress is a universal affliction. However, evidence including case studies has shown that the reaction, assessment, and treatment of posttraumatic stress tend to differ across cultures. This literature review examines the approach to Post Traumatic Stress between Western and African cultures. This comparative review will reveal prevalence rates of PTS, expose current flaws in assessment methods, uncover the differences between the two cultures, point out the limitations in current treatment mechanisms, and give suggestions on how to optimally treat patients cross-culturally