There is evidence that cultural background influences the expression, interpretation and value given to psychiatric symptoms [18]. An important goal of both the Diagnostic Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) American Psychiatric Association [APA] [3] and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th edition (ICD-10) (WHO [83]) is to provide descriptions of valid diagnostic constructs that can be applied across age, gender, ethnicities and cultures or contexts [63]. Consistent with this goal, the DSM-IV included a section on Specific Culture, Age and Gender Features for each diagnostic category which is intended to guide the clinician on variations of the disorder that may be attributable to the individual’s culture, sex or developmental stage. However, how well this goal has been achieved by this approach is a matter of controversy. In this paper, we are especially interested in the extent to which diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder (CD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) are valid across cultures.
