Attenuated Psychosis Syndromes Among Mexican Youth and Young Adults: A Culturally Relevant Case Illustration Approach

Abstract

Epidemiologic studies regarding the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Mexico's population have established that 28.6% of the population has met criteria for at least one disorder in their lifetime, 13.9–18.6% within the last year, and 5.8% in the last 30 days. Mexican society, and its heterogeneous nature, involves a multitude of contrasts and peculiarities; the synthesis between Western cultural elements and the catholic ideology is a very common element. The vast majority of the population is mestizo and the conservation of the indigenous legacy is considered very important as a constituent part of the national identity. Mexican culture is protective of its customs and contains strong feelings of pride about the traditions and folklore. Families tend to be very present in the lives of people with mental illness and are often involved in the evolution of the clinical condition. Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome (APS) is still a relatively unfamiliar concept in Mexico. Proper inclusion of this syndrome as part of psychiatry residency programs, along with epidemiological and cultural-focused research, will help with proper identification and, in the midterm, the development of specific public health policies focused on psychosis and APS in Mexico. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)