ABSTRACT
In western culture men suffer less than women from the standard neuroses and minor psychiatric disorders (Briscoe 1982) but workaholism is predominantly male, and so is its sequel, burnout. Mood disorders affect women more than men in the west, but the most disturbing of them-mania-more often affects men, and with a greater risk of appalling consequences. An energetic man with delusions of enormous power and wealth may be in a position to destroy his company or his government. Among the psychosomatic disorders women have a corner in headache, nervous stomach, eating disorders and high blood pressure, while men under stress may develop peptic ulcers, asthma or ischaemic heart disease. This is the situation in the west. In developing countries such as India, Uganda and New Guinea, men suffer more than women from all types of mental problems including depressive illness-in sharp contrast. In South America the situation is again opposite with psychologically-disturbed women easily outnumbering the men. This may be due to the machismo concept, making it unacceptable for a man to show physical weakness or admit to anxieties or depressive thoughts.
