Studied 25 male laborers (aged 20-45 yrs) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, who presented with an acute psychotic syndrome preceded by stressful life events. Symptoms included sleeplessness, disordered or violent behavior, and thought disorder, and 11 Ss cited a precipitating event such as job loss. The Ss represented only 3 nationalities (Pakistani, Iranian, and Indian), although many people from other nationalities labor under similar stressful conditions in that country. It is suggested that cultural factors play a role in the etiology of this syndrome.