Chapter 14 Hikkomori : A culture-bound syndrome, largely limited to Japan, in which people, most often adolescent boys, impose a self-incarceration and withdraw from all social interaction for an extended period of time. Psychological disorder : Disorders are usually described as behaviours that are rare and cause some kind of impairment to the individual (although there are general exceptions to the pattern). When behaviours are considered problematic in one culture but not in another dhat syndrome : dhat syndrome, a disorder that is frequently observed in a number of South Asian cultures (see Obeyesekere, 1985). Dhat syndrome is characterized by a belief among young men that they are leaking semen, which causes them to be morbidly anxious, because semen is largely viewed by them to be a source of vitality. The religious scriptures of the Hindus state, "Forty meals produce one drop of blood, 40 drops of blood give rise to one drop of bone marrow, and 40 drops of marrow form one drop of semen" (Akhtar, 1988). According to this view, semen is a very precious commodity, and an excessive loss of it is feared to result in serious illness. Dhat syndrome is often asso- ciated with crippling feelings of guilt and anxiety about having indulged in certain disapproved sexual acts (such as masturbation) that have apparently resulted in its victims having sprung a more enduring leak. Culture bound syndromes : Culture-bound syndromes are those that appear to be greatly influenced by cultural factors and hence occur far less frequently, or are manifested in highly divergent ways, in other cultures. Eating disorders : Bulimia nervosa - a disorder that is often characterized by binge eating and induced vomiting anorexia nervosa, one must refuse to main- tain a normal body weight, be intensely fearful of gaining weight or becoming fat, deny the seriousness of one's low body weight, and, for postmenarcheal females, miss three consecutive menstrual cycles. More prevalent in west and countries with western influence. Koro : This aptly named disease is most common among men, in whom it manifests as a morbid fear that one's penis is shrinking into one's body. This event is believed to have harmful consequences, including death, and causes tremendous anxiety and terror among those afflicted. It is far less common among women, in whom it tends to manifest as a similar fear that one's nipples are shrinking into one's body. More common in southeast asia - china, singapore Amok : A phenomenon found in Southeast Asia whereby an individual has an acute outburst of indiscriminate violence followed by amnesia and exhaustion. More prevalent in men. Hysteria : One of the most common psychological disor- ders that was diagnosed throughout Europe in the mid-19th century was hysteria, in which women exhibited symptoms such as fainting, insomnia, sudden paralysis, tempo- rary blindness, loss of appetite for food or sex, and
a general "tendency to cause trouble". The disorder, sometimes referred to as "the great neurosis". frigophobia (primarily identified in China): is a morbid fear of