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Culture Syndromes in Asia Countries: A Scoping Review For Multicultural Counseling Implications

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The aim of this scoping review was (i) to identify the types of culture syndrome, (ii) the estimated prevalence, and (iii) the intervention available in Asia countries in the past decade. Information was extracted from five subscribed databases; Cambridge, ProQuest, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Wiley. The inclusion criteria were English language journal articles published in 2010-2020 with keyword search was culture-bound syndrome. Exclusion criteria were: (i) non-Asia countries, (ii) non-retrievable, and (iii) review articles. Articles included in this study were 29 with a total of 8125 respondents. There were ten types of culture syndromes in six countries. India has three types; Dhat, Koro and Devaki; Japan has two types, hikikomori and jikoshu-kyofu; China has Shenjing- shuairuo; Iran has Djinnati; Korea has Hwa-byung; Malaysia has Saka and Singapore has Pinkerton. Prevalence statistics reported for five of the ten syndromes and three of the syndromes were studied for the interventions. Understanding of the culture syndrome contributes to counselors' multicultural competency. It facilitates the counselling process; rapport building, case conceptualization, and evidence-based treatment plan. Certain types of culture-bound syndrome are unique and prevalent in specific countries and are useful knowledge for counseling practices. However, for the past decade, evidence-based treatments were rarely reported in the existing studies, thus meriting further studies.

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