Cultural psychopathology: Uncovering the social world of mental illness

We review cultural psychopathology research since Kleinman's (1988) importa nt review with the goals of updating past reviews, evaluating current conce ptualizations and methods, and identifying emerging substantive trends. Con ceptual advances are noted, particularly developments in the definition of culture and the examination of both culture-specific and cultural-general p rocesses. The contributions of the Culture and Diagnosis Task Force for DSM -IV and the World Mental Health Report are reviewed and contrasted. Selecte d research on anxiety, schizophrenia, and childhood disorders is examined, with particular attention given to the study of ataque de nervios, social f actors affecting the course of schizophrenia, and cross-national difference s in internalizing and externalizing problems in children. Within the last ten years, cultural psychopathology research has become a significant force . Its focus on the social world holds promise to make significant inroads i n reducing suffering and improving people's everyday lives.