Resumo

BATRES MENDEZ, Gioconda. Las mujeres centroamericanas y la psiquiatría. Med. leg. Costa Rica [online]. 2001, vol.17, n.2, pp.21-26. ISSN 2215-5287.

Basic formulation of the psychology of women, postulated traditionally, are questioned by gender studies and many concepts have been redefined. The excess of psychological symptoms in women (how selfesteem, delf-punishment, quilt, depression, isolation) isn`t a biological part of being a women, yet it is a part of he subordinated roles traditionally belonging to women. Gender indentity to structured and interionted since the first infancy (18 months); it is associated with congnoscitive and emotional factors that, psychologically, make more difficult its deconstruction. It is necesary that professional of mental health are traiced with gender studies in order to have a better comprehension of the problems that affect women, their diagnosis and their treatment. Gender sensitive treatment has as its central theme recognition that for women, living in a sexist society, has had a cost in their mental health.

Palavras-chave : Mental health; women; gender; power; appression; discrimination; gender-sensitive therapy.