Psychiatric Disorders in the Walbiri, Central Australia

Abstract

A survey is reported of psychiatric disorders in an Australian Aboriginal tribal group of 650 persons residing at Yuendumu, Central Australia. Methods of case detection and criteria of inclusion of cases are described. Clinical summaries of all affected individuals are supplied and the frequency distribution of psychiatric illness by age, sex, diagnosis and severity is presented. The survey results are discussed and related to sociocultural circumstances of the Walbiri people and to epidemiological findings from other parts of the world.