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03/27/2008: "Cultural differences confused with mental illness"

Heap You's doctors thought she was crazy. The Cambodian immigrant kept saying her neck was going to explode, though an examination showed nothing physically wrong. One hospital put her on antipsychotic medication.

Hinton realized the patient was not out of her mind. The Harvard assistant professor, who specializes in treating Southeast Asian patients, knew that some Cambodians believe that the circulation of wind throughout their bodies maintains their health, and poor circulation from an ill body can cause a dangerous strokelike explosion of wind.

[ We are told that we all think similarly, so it is no surprise if western psychiatrists often diagnose those from other cultures as being mentally ill. Simply living in the wrong culture is enough to cause such problems. ]

http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2008/03/24/culture_gap/?page=full