Crosscultural psychiatry and the concept of mental illness

The problems encountered by Western-trained psychiatrists in crosscultural research in the multicultural South African population are discussed. In particular, attention is paid to the differing concepts of mental health and mental illness in preliterate societies and to problems of mutual understanding. The several dichotomies in the Western concepts, as they apply to rural African communities, are reviewed in brief. It is postulated that, because of its holistic approach, the most acceptable concept is the general systems theory, which is pertinent to the culture. The theory is characterized by the absence of a mind-body dichotomy, and includes physical, psychological, 'religious' and social aspects.