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The socio-cultural significance of the diagnostic label “neurasthenia” in Japan's mental health care system

  • Neurasthenia in Asian Cultures
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Abstract

This paper is an attempt to explore the socio-cultural significance of deliberately disguising schizophrenia as neurasthenia, neurosis or malfunction of autonomic nervous system. To understand its significance, the socio-cultural background of Japanese attitudes toward mental illness and Japan's mental health care system is also examined from a non-Western standpoint.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Mental Health, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan

    Tsunetsugu Munakata

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  1. Tsunetsugu Munakata
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Munakata, T. The socio-cultural significance of the diagnostic label “neurasthenia” in Japan's mental health care system. Cult Med Psych 13, 203–213 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02220662

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