Reviews the psychiatric problems and treatment resources of contemporary Morocco with a special emphasis on psychosocial determining factors. Hospital use and distribution are chiefly urban, although most of the population is rural and agricultural. The Moslem religion and North African sex roles and family structure are seen as primary forces in both the definition of illness and the expectations for care. Special problems are posed also by language, as few mental health professionals are native; a legacy of the nation's long colonial history. The widespread use of drugs (cannabis) and magical healing folk customs further complicate the appraisal of psychiatric issues. The physician is often seen not as one who cures, but as one who certifies the presence of illness. This assures a shift in the patients' social role and status, matters of great importance in the Moroccan culture.