Cultural Syndromes

Question 1

Latah

Answer 1

An exaggerated startle response to frightening stimuli. Usually presents in South East Asia.

Question 2

Koro

Answer 2

Occurs in China and South East Asia. Intense anxiety related to belief that one’s genitals are shrinking, resulting in possible death.

Question 3

Pibloktoq

Answer 3

Also known as Arctic hysteria. Dissociative episode with prolonged extreme excitement, sometimes followed by seizures and coma. Can have prodrome of irritability. Often causes dangerous irrational behaviour.

Question 4

Windigo

Answer 4

Psychosis characterised by insatiable craving for human flesh even when other food is available.
Native American

Question 5

Brain fag

Answer 5

A psychoneurotic syndrome occurring among students of Southern Nigeria. Unable to continue with their studies, various head symptoms.

Question 6

Amok

Answer 6

“Rampage” in Malay. Dissociative condition characterised by a non-pre-meditative violent disorderly or homicidal rage. Doesn’t usually have a stimulus associated with it, in contrast to Latah.

Question 7

Khyal cap

Answer 7

“Wind attacks”. Occurs in Cambodians. Characterised by dizziness, SOB, palpitations, and other anxiety symptoms.

Question 8

Kufungisisa

Answer 8

“Thinking too much”. A disorder of distress reported by the Shona people of Zimbabwe.

Question 9

Lycanthropy

Answer 9

A rare in which sufferers experience the delusion of turning into an animal.

Question 10

Maladi moun

Answer 10

“Humanly caused illness”. Found in Haitian communities. An explanation for a number of psychiatric and medical conditions, which are thought to be sent by someone else.

Question 11

Taijin Kyofusho

Answer 11

A Japanese term. Patients suffer from intense disabling fear that their bodies are embarrassing or offensive to others.

Question 12

Hikikomori

Answer 12

“Pulling inward”. Japanese term. Acute social withdrawal in young individuals who are often staying with their parents.

Question 13

Saora

Answer 13

Young Indian men and women exhibit memory loss, fainting and inappropriate crying or laughing. May report being bitten by insects when none are present.

Question 14

Dhat

Answer 14

Indian term. Patients suffer from severe anxiety and hypochondria related to loss of semen through urine, nocturnal emission or masturbation.

Question 15

Shenkui

Answer 15

A syndrome similar to Dhat, but occurring in China.

Question 16

Shenking shuairuo

Answer 16

Broad Chinese term for fatigue, pain, poor concentration, irritability and a variety of somatic complaints.

Question 17

Zar

Answer 17

Term in Middle East and North Africa. Refers to spirit possession, with dissociative episodes.

Question 18

Shin-Byung

Answer 18

Korean term for anxiety and numerous somatic complaints.

Question 19

Susto

Answer 19

“Fright”. Latin American term. Refers to the soul leaving the body in response to a frightening event.

Question 20

Ataque de nervios

Answer 20

“Attack of the nerves”. Latin American term. Syndrome of uncontrollable crying, sensation of heat leaving the body, dissociative events, verbal or physical aggression.

Question 21

Wihtigo

Answer 21

Native American syndrome. Fear of being turned into a cannibal through possession by a supernatural monster.