Abstract
The authors interviewed first-generation Greek immigrant women in Montreal about nonspecific somatic symptoms. The concept of nevra (nerves), which was central to these discussions, was used to link environmental and psychosocial variables with distress and painful physical states. The authors discuss the cultural construction of female identity in Greece and analyze the negative effect of immigration on self-esteem, often manifested as attacks of nevra. Metaphorical concepts, such as nevra, can be used to improve physician understanding and to facilitate communication with, and enhance care of, immigrant patients.
Keywords: cross-cultural medicine, distress, family medicine, immigrant health care, neurology, psychiatry, somatization
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Dunkas N., Nikelly A. G. Group psychotherapy with Greek immigrants. Int J Group Psychother. 1975 Oct;25(4):402–409. doi: 10.1080/00207284.1975.11491917. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kleinman A. Neurasthenia and depression: a study of somatization and culture in China. Cult Med Psychiatry. 1982 Jun;6(2):117–190. doi: 10.1007/BF00051427. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lock M. Plea for acceptance: school refusal syndrome in Japan. Soc Sci Med. 1986;23(2):99–112. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(86)90359-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mechanic D. The experience and reporting of common physical complaints. J Health Soc Behav. 1980 Jun;21(2):146–155. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Moraitis S., Zigouras J. N. Impressions on greek immigrants. Med J Aust. 1971 Mar 13;1(11):598–600. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1971.tb87731.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]