[Two cases of koro syndrome or anxiety disorder associated with genital retraction fear].
As a cultural-bound syndrome, koro is described in the DSM-IV as "an episode of sudden and intense anxiety that the penis (or, in females, the vulva and the nipples) will recede into the body and possibly cause death." Sometimes the syndrome may occur as an epidemic involving several hundreds to thousands of subjects within a short period of time. While the syndrome individually involves an anxiety reaction and fear of mortal genital retraction, it collectively takes the form of epidemics and mass panic. Recently a consensus has been reached about the fact that genital retraction is intimately related not only with ethno-cultural beliefs but also with the dramatic expression of acute anxiety and fear of impending catastrophe or death. We present two cases of koro syndrome who experienced severe anxiety due to the feeling of genital retraction and thus we question the cultural specifity of fears of genital retraction.
Atalay
Hakan
H
Yeditepe U Hastanesi Psikiyatri BI., Istanbul. hakanatalay2005@gmail.com
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005835:Genitalia; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013577:Syndrome