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Somatization in Saudi Women: A Therapeutic Challenge

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

John Racy*
Affiliation:
The University of Arizona, Health Sciences Center, Tucson, Arizona 85724, USA

Summary

Clinical experience with women in strictly controlled socially inferior positions in Saudi Arabia illustrates how somatic complaints can express emotional problems which have no other outlets. The women are passive and for therapy to succeed an alliance with a male relative is necessary. Measures to combat passivity can be of great benefit.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1980 

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