Culture and Mental Illness

Good old NYT Magazine. Today's link covers the issue of whether or not our definitions of mental illness are shaping the expression of disorders world-wide. In some ways it seems obvious, anorexia is not likely to be a problem in a culture where people don't care about getting fat. The article raises some good points, although it's frustratingly incomplete and spends too much time talking about the risks of medical imperialism rather than focusing on the much more interesting question of just HOW culture affects mental disorders. *sigh* oh well.