1例中国被收养女性罹患神经性贪食症的案例:跨文化研究

概述:一直以来,饮食障碍被认为是西方国家特有的与文化相关的综合症.因为神经性厌食症,这个理论似乎己被打破,但仍少有关于神经性贪食症的跨文化研究,故这方面文献有限.在本临床病例中,我们试图探讨文化因素对这一疾病的影响.我们研究了此病例中的非典型特征,特别关注到容易被忽略的患者的外表容貌和收养隐秘被揭晓所诱发的心理冲击.神经性贪食症触发了一种亲子关系和自我认同的重新寻找,以期日后再度恢复良好家庭关系并最终获得自我.同样我们也研究本病例中的中国收养状况.本病例提示文化因素影响的重要性,跨文化研究可以帮助我们更好的理解神经性贪食症,并提示了有效治疗手段.

Case Study of An Adopted Chinese Woman with Bulimia Nervosa: A Cultural and Transcultural Approach

For a long time,eating disorders were considered as culture-bound syndromes,specific to Western countries.This theory has been refuted for anorexia,but few transcultural studies have been carried out on bulimia nervosa.As a result,knowledge concerning this disorder is limited.On the basis of a clinical case involving a bulimic Chinese girl,we attempt to demonstrate the impact of cultural factors on the disorder.We discuss the atypical characteristics of her symptom profile,in particular the absence of preoccupations concerning her appearance and the psycho-pathological impact of the secrecy surrounding her adoption.In this particular case,bulimia triggered a search for filiation and identity that could have later enabled her to restore harmonious family ties and to gain autonomy.We also examine the case in the context of adopt-ion in China.This clinical case points out how important it is to take cultural factors into account and how useful a transcultural approach is in order to understand bulimia,and suggest effective methods of care.