Cross-cultural psychiatry in Micronesia: the consultant's view.

Patients evaluated by the authors as consulting clinical psychiatrists in a cross-cultural setting, Micronesia, form the basis for an examination of regional variations in demographic characteristics, diagnoses, and referral patterns. Different rates of occurrence of disorders, selective referral practices, and diversity in manifestation of symptomatology are all considered. The authors offer suggestions regarding social and cultural factors which may account for the observed differences.