The case histories of three Japanese-Canadian schizophrenic patients (two male, one female) were studied with a view to evaluating the relevance of socio-cultural factors to the etiology, symptomatology and course of the illness. Following a brief description of their socio-cultural background, the personalities of their parents and the interaction between Issei and Nisei were described.
The data obtained lend support to the assumption that external stress is of paramount importance for the etiology of schizophrenia.
Essential features of Japanese family structure in its relation to conflict between first generation (Issei) Japanese Canadians and second generation Japanese Canadians (Nisei) have been discussed.
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