Research article summary (published 30 May 1992):

"Chronicity," "nervios" and community care: a case study of Puerto Rican psychiatric patients in New York City.

Full Abstract

The role of ethnicity, community structure, and folk concepts of mental illness in facilitating the adaptation of long term psychiatric patients to community living has received little attention. This article examines the cultural concepts of mental illness and the community involvement of 30 Puerto Rican psychiatric patients participating in a New York City treatment program. It is shown that many of the attributes usually associated with chronic mental illness do not apply to this population. It is argued that the folk concept of nervios helps to foster the integration of these patients in a wide range of community networks. The impact of gentrification on these patients' community integration is also discussed.

Author information

Author/s: Swerdlow, M (M);

Affiliation: St. Mary Hospital Community Mental Health Center, Hoboken, NJ 07030.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Case Reports; Comparative Study; Journal Article

Journal: Culture, medicine and psychiatry (Cult Med Psychiatry), published in NETHERLANDS. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1992-Jun; vol 16 (issue 2) : pp 217-35

Dates: Created 1992/11/04; Completed 1992/11/04; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 1395696, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adaptation, Psychological Adult Cross-Cultural Comparison Female Hispanic Americans Humans Male

Mental Disorders - etiology; psychology Mental Healing Mental Health Services New York City - ethnology Religion and Psychology Stress, Psychological - complications United States

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