Koro is a culture bound delusional disorder in which an individual has an overpowering belief that their sex organs are retracting and will disappear , despite the lack of any true longstanding changes to the genitals.
What is the cause of Koro syndrome?
Causes. Koro has been described as a panic disorder that centers around the genitals . It appears to be heavily influenced by cultural beliefs, which might explain why epidemics are common.
What are the symptoms of koro?
The koro syndrome is a psychiatric disorder characterized by acute anxiety and a deep-seated fear of shrinkage of the penis and its ultimate retraction into the abdomen , which will cause death.
What culture is koro from?
Koro has therefore been held to be a Chinese “culture-bound ” condition. However , the koro phenomenon is also known among diverse ethnic and religious groups in Asia and Africa, typically in cultures in which reproductive ability is a major determinant of a young person’s worth.
What is the definition of culture bound syndromes?
Culture and Psychiatry
A culture-bound syndrome is a collection of signs and symptoms that is restricted to a limited number of cultures by reason of certain psychosocial features . Culture-bound syndromes are usually restricted to a specific setting, and they have a special relationship to that setting.
Is Koro curable?
The treatment of koro syndrome and koro-like symptoms depends on its aetiology. For sporadic koro, the underlying neuropsychiatric disorder should be treated . Standard antipsychotic and antidepressant treatment has been successfully used in most cases.
What is a Latah?
Latah is originally a Malay term for a broad category of strange behavior. Literally it means ‘ Tiklish,’ ‘Jumpy’ or ‘Love-madness . ‘ It was suggested by Yap that references to Latah in Malay literature date to the fourteenth century.
What is Koro in psychology?
n. a culture-bound syndrome observed primarily in males in China and southeast Asia. It is an acute anxiety reaction in which the male suddenly fears that his penis is shrinking and will disappear into his abdomen, bringing death. (In females, the fear is focused on the vulva and nipples.)
Is Erotomania a mental illness?
Erotomania is a rare mental health condition that happens when someone is fixated on the idea that another person is intensely in love with them. The other person may be a celebrity, wealthy, or of a high social position. The condition is also known as De Clérambault’s syndrome.
What causes delusional parasitosis?
In some cases, delusional parasitosis happens after a chemical imbalance in the brain from other health conditions . It may also be linked to drug use or addiction, such as cocaine addiction. It isn’t known exactly where in the brain this condition happens.
Why is Koro a culture bound syndrome?
Genital retraction syndrome, shrinking penis. Specialty. Psychiatry. Koro is a culture bound delusional disorder in which an individual has an overpowering belief that their sex organs are retracting and will disappear , despite the lack of any true longstanding changes to the genitals.
What is Shenkui?
Shenkui is a Chinese culture-bound syndrome attributed to excessive semen loss . Similar to the more widely studied dhat found most frequently in India, sufferers of shenkui endorse both physical and psychological symptoms which are ascribed to an imbalance in Yin and Yang.
Is Susto a culture bound syndrome?
It is described by Razzouk et al. as a condition of being frightened and “chronic somatic suffering stemming from emotional trauma or from witnessing traumatic experiences lived by others”. Susto is classified as a culture-bound syndrome , a symptom that occurs and is recognized within an ethnic group.
What is an example of culture-bound syndrome?
Culture-bound disorders may involve somatic expressions (e.g., temporary loss of consciousness or involuntarily clenched teeth), cognitions (e.g., a belief that one’s genitals are retracting into the body or a conviction that one has been abducted by extraterrestrial beings), or behaviors (e.g., extreme startle ...
What are the five culture-bound syndromes?
| Name Geographical localization/populations | Dhat syndrome India | Khyâl cap Cambodian | Ghost sickness Native American | Kufungisisa Zimbabwe |
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Is depression a culture-bound syndrome?
It can be argued that depression also fulfils the criteria for a culture-bound syndrome, in westernised societies. Our indigenous beliefs are based on the premise that depression is an illness of common and increasing prevalence, destined to become the second most disabling disease by 2020.
