SOCIAL CLASS AND MENTAL ILLNESS : SOME IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL THEORY AND PRACTICE

It is suggested that clinical practitioners assume a far more studied and sophisticated cross-cultural (or, more exactly, pan-cultural) posture than has characterized them in the past.

Abstract

From a survey of the recent literature concerning the prevalence and treatment of mental illnesses it was concluded that great caution should be exercised in the generalization of clinical data not only to "normal" populations, but even within clinical groups. The hypothesis was offered in regard to psychotherapy that it may well be a "middle class" form of treatment. In concluding it is suggested that clinical practitioners assume a far more studied and sophisticated cross-cultural (or, more exactly, pan-cultural) posture than has characterized them in the past.