Culture bound syndromes Flashcards
Culture bound syndrome seen largely in SE Asia. Sullen period followed by an outburst of violence and then a return to premorbid state
Amok
Culture bound syndrome occurring in those of latino descent. An attack of severe distress often relating to a stressful event. Involves uncontrollable shouting, crying, beating oneself, seizure type activity.
Ataque de Nervios
Culture bound syndrome seen in West Africa and Haiti. Sudden outburst of agitated, distressed and confused behaviour often resembling a brief psychotic episode
Bouffee delirante
Culture bound syndrome seen in West Africa. Difficulties in concentrating, thinking and remembering seen at times of hard intellectual work
Brain fag
Culture bound syndrome seen in India and SE Asia. Various symptoms are attributed to loss of semen.
Dhat, also called Shenkui in China
Culture bound syndrome seen in China. Fear of cold due to a perceived yin-yang imbalance
Pa-Leng
Culture bound syndrome seen in China. Fear of wind due to a perceived yin-yang imbalance
Pa-Feng
Culture bound syndrome seen in Cambodia. Panic attacks due to a fear that Khyâl (a wind-like substance) may rise up in the body and cause a range of effects including SOB, blurred vision and even death
Khyâl cap
Culture bound syndrome seen in SE Asia and China. Belief among males that the penis is withdrawing up into the abdomen and will possibly cause death
Koro
Culture bound syndrome seen in Malaysia. Usually in women, a hypersensitivity to being frightened or startled causing echopraxia, echolalia, automatic responses and dissociative behaviour
Latah
Culture bound syndrome seen in the Mediterranean. Concept of the evil eye affecting people’s health, often causing physical symptoms in children.
Mal de ojo
Culture bound syndrome seen in Haiti. General explanation for a range of illnesses or symptoms which revolves around the idea illnesses have been sent by others to cause malice
Maladi moun
Culture bound syndrome seen in people of Latino descent. General state of higher vulnerability to stressful events causing a range of symptoms of emotional distress, leading to an inability to function.
Nervios
Culture bound syndrome seen in Egypt, Greece and Central America. Recurrent severe episodes of sorrow or anxiety causing a range of physical symptoms.
Nerfiza or Nevra
Culture bound syndrome seen in Arctic Indigenous groups. Dissociative episodes with extreme arousal or agitation followed by seizure and coma lasting up to 12 hours. May behave dangerously e.g. jumping into ice cold water naked. Usually amnesia following the event
Piblokto
Culture bound syndrome seen in Mandarin Chinese groups. Involves feeling lethargic or overly emotional, associated with physical pain and insomnia triggered by some environmental stressor and associated with a sense of personal failure.
Shenjing shuairuo
Culture bound syndrome seen in people of Latino descent. An illness that is attributed to a frightening event causing the soul to leave the body resulting in unhappiness and sickness.
Susto
Culture bound syndrome seen in Japan. The avoidance of interpersonal situations due to the feeling that one’s appearance or actions are inadequate or offensive to others
Taijin kyofusho
Culture bound syndrome seen in Southern Africa. An anxious state sometimes including paralysis, loss of consciousness or a trance like state occurring in young, unmarried women. Attributed to the effects of magical potions or spirit possession.
Ufufuyane
Culture bound syndrome seen in Algonquian Indian cultures. Occurs after a severe scarcity of food. Involves a distaste for food which eventually leads the sufferer to believe they are turning into a cannibalistic ice spirit
Wendigo
Culture bound syndrome seen in Native American people. Characterised by general weakness, recurring nightmares, and a preoccupation with death
Ghost sickness
Culture bound syndrome seen in Chinese patients where reported coldness of the extremities leads to a morbid fear of death
Frigophobia
Culture bound syndrome seen in the Shona people of Zimbabwe where it is believed that thinking too much causes anxiety, depression, or somatic problems
Kufungisisa
Type of phenomenon koro is
Desomatisation phenomenon
