Susto: A Folk Illness

Comparative Studies of Health Systems and Medical Care

by Arthur J. Rubel, Carl W. O'Nell, Rolando Collado-Ardon

Widespread throughout Latin America, susto is a folk illness associated with a broad array of symptoms. It is considered by susceptible populations to be a sickness caused by the separation of soul and body which is precipitated by a supernatural force. Most studies of culture-bound diseases have relied on descriptive approaches that focus on pathologies derived from medical textbooks. This study takes an interdisciplinary approach, looking for explanations of susto in the interaction of social, physiological, and psychological factors.

195 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 1984

Reviews

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

US scholars/medics study susto in indigenous communities in Oaxaca and through psychiatric surveys and blood/urine/stool analysis. They conclude that those identifying themselves with having susto were more likely to die from the disease. This keeps with the notion that the mind controls the body.