title: Hysterical paralysis and premature burial: a medieval Persian case, fear and fascination in the West, and modern practice.
abstract: Premature burial (taphophobia) is an ancient fear, but it became especially common in 18th and 19th century Europe and may have a modern-day counterpart. Examination of a well-documented case from medieval Persia reveals the importance of funeral practices in the risk of actual premature burial and sheds light on the question of why taphophobia became so prevalent in Europe during the early industrial revolution period. The medieval Persian case was attributed to hysterical paralysis (conversion). We discuss the relationship between hysterical paralysis and premature burial more generally and show that although understanding of conversion syndrome remains incomplete, modern knowledge and practices have limited the risk of any similar tragedy today.
authors.affiliation: Theoretical Medicine and Biology Group, Glossop, Derbyshire, UK.
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Agutter
authors.forename: Mohammadali M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shoja
authors.forename: R Shane
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tubbs
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Rashidi
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khalili
authors.forename: Seyed Fazel
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.forename: Kamyar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ghabili
authors.forename: Aaron A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cohen-Gadol
authors.forename: Marios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loukas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001926:Brain Death / Q000175:diagnosis; D002048:Burial / Q000266:history*; D002835:Christianity; D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000266:history*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D019071:Persia; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000266:history* / Q000523:psychology