[Culture diseases. Brief review on the way characteristics of today's life affect the ways of mental disease]

Acta Med Port. 1992 May;5(5):255-7.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

Culture is expressed in the content of psychiatric symptoms. In this paper we try to establish a relationship between the pathoplasticity of some paradigmatic psychiatric disorders and characteristics of values and life styles in developed societies. We argue that some aspects of a marked hedonism hide a dangerous nihilism and they both articulate, in a discrepant way, with opposing responsible hiperrational and hypercompetitive register. Doctrinaire fanaticisms increase markedly in other places in the globe with endemic shortages while solid values lack in the societies of abundance. This affects mental health.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Culture*
  • Hysteria / psychology
  • Mental Disorders / psychology*
  • Philosophy
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology