Psychosis precipitated by marriage: a culture-bound syndrome?
A retrospective study of 258 psychiatric out-patients in Jerusalem compared 122 patients from an ultra-orthodox Jewish community with 136 other Jewish patients. It was found that six patients who had a psychosis within a month of marriage all belonged to the ultra-orthodox community. The possible links between cultural and educational practice in the ultra-orthodox community and the vulnerability to the stress of marriage are discussed. It seems feasible to regard the precipitation of major mental illness by marriage as a largely culture-bound phenomenon.
Fisch
R Z
RZ
Department of Psychiatry, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem.
D000328:Adult; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007585:Jews / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological