Transcultural aspects of psychiatric patients in Qatar.

The illness behaviour of Qatari psychiatric patients is defined by the nature of their symptomatology. The importance of somatic symptoms in determining the patient role and patient-doctor relationship is discussed in the light of cultural characteristics of the Qatari community. Delusory cultural beliefs related to possession, sorcery and envy provide a conceptual framework for explanation of many disorders. Inter-generational conflict is an important factor in neurotic disorders. Failure to report symptoms in an abstract fashion is characteristic of qatari patients. The cultural and religious heritage absorbs many behaviours which would otherwise be considered symptomatic of psychiatric disorder.