title: Associative illness among aboriginals.
abstract: Associative mental illness occurring in close relatives is described from Numbulwar and Yirrkala Missions, two Aboriginal communities in Eastern Arnhem Land. Since it is a clear example of the influence of culture on mental illness, these factors which facilitate the production of the illnesses are examined. They are (1) cross-identification between members of the clan group; (2) the assumption that mental illness is caused by sorcery which acts to detriment of all the relatives in a clan group, not only on the individual; (3) the belief that mental experiences in general are not private and may be shared by close relatives.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D003469:Culture; D004325:Dreams; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007062:Identification, Psychological; D008273:Magic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011385:Projection; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000235:genetics; D013688:Telepathy; D000095283:Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples