A phenomenological view of PTSD from an African perspective

South Africa as a country is known for its high crime rate which produces an ongoing traumatising environment for its multicultural nation. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the general South African population is thought to be more prevalent than most international norms which make this topic both relevant and important. Cultural diversity is seen to play a role in the experience of PTSD which means that it has become important to gain an understanding of the potential effect of the individual¿s cultural background on the processing of a traumatic experience and the symptoms related to the experience. This book explores appraisals of traumatic events and symptoms in schematic and cultural terms. This book should be read by every mental health practitioner worldwide. Practitioners may not need to completely reinvent the wheel as far as treatment strategies for PTSD for isiXhosa-speaking individuals in an urban setting go.