Psychosis in a peasant society: Social outcomes

J. Westermeyer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Several clinicians have theorized that somatic and residential treatments have an untoward effect on the eventual outcome of mental illness. To test this hypothesis, the author studied social coping behavior of mentally ill people in Laos, a predominantly peasant society with no psychiatrists or psychiatric hospitals. The Lao folk term baa ('crazy' or insane) was used in determining cases. Social factors studied included legal problems, family contact, sociability, friendship, communal activities, sexuality, and work. Results indicated that levels of social function in this sample were quite limited. The author concludes that social disability associated with chronic psychosis cannot be ascribed totally to diagnostic labeling or institutionalization.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1390-1394
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry
Volume137
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1980

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