title: Mass family hysteria: a report from India.
abstract: The case of a 31-member family displaying mass hysteria in up to 10 members at one time is reported. The mass hysteria emerged in the context of the strong religious and cultural beliefs held by this closely knit family. The varied presentations included somatoform disorder, recurrent vomiting, conversion, dissociative and possession attacks. Two members had bipolar affective disorder that was recognized by the family as a 'medical' illness in contrast to other problems attributed to religiosity. The rarity of mass hysteria in a family and issues related to its medical and social management are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. skm_ddtc@glide.net.in
authors.forename: Surendra K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mattoo
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Aprajita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lobana
authors.forename: Balraj
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bedi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007046:Hysteria / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D012008:Recurrence; D012067:Religion; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D014839:Vomiting / Q000523:psychology