Ninety-two schizophrenic patients of both sexes admitted to hospital at Taif, Saudi Arabia were examined to discover the incidence of Schneider's first-rand symptoms and their usefulness in diagnosing schizophrenia in this country. Fifty-two patients (56.5 per cent) were found to have these symptoms, most frequently 'made' phenomena and 'somatic passivity'. The role of possible socio-cultural factors and the need for serious studies on transcultural psychiatry are discussed.