Culture-Bound Syndromes

Koro

Shenkui

Shenjing Shuairuo

Zuo Huo Ru Mo

Pa-leng

Chinese Cultural Concepts

Koro

Chinese cultural concept which is the fear that the genitals are retracting into the body and may disappear or cause death

Shenkui

Chinese cultural concept that is the concern about loss of vital essence/energy, traditionally associated with bodily or sexual energy

Shenjing Shuairuo

Chinese cultural concept that involves weakness/exhaustion of the nervous system, with fatigue, headache, poor concentration, etc.

Zou Huo Ru Mo

Chinese concept of distress attributed to improper spiritual, meditation, or qigong practice, sometimes involving disrupted internal energy

Pa-leng

Chinese culturally shaped complaints/concerns related to cold and its effects on the body

Khyal Cap

Combodian Cultural Concepts

Khyal Cap

Cambodian cultural concept that are panic/anxiety-like symptoms interpreted through khyal, a culturally understood wind-like substance moving through the body

Hwabyung

Kyol Goeu

Shinbyeong

Korean Cultural Concepts

Hwabyung

Korean cultural concept characterized as distress associated with suppressed/accumulated anger, often with physical symptoms

Kyol Goeu

Korean culturally shaped concerns involving blood, including perceived blood loss or abnormal blood-related sensations

Shinbyeong

Korean cultural concept that is a spirit-related illness/calling in shamanistic contexts. May also involve altered states or unusual experiences

Taijin Kyofusho

Jikoshu-Kyofu

Hikkikomori

Japanese Cultural Concepts

Taijin Kyofusho

Japanese cultural concept that involves the fear of offending, embarrassing, or making other people uncomfortable through one’s appearance/behavior

Jikoshu-Kyofu

Japanese cultural concept that is the specific fear that one’s body odor is offensive to others

Hikikomori

Japanese cultural concept characterized by severe/prolonged social withdrawal and isolation

Dhat

Saora

Indian/Southeast Asian Cultural Concepts

Dhat Syndrome

Indian/Southeast Asian cultural concept that is the excessive concern about semen loss causing weakness/illness

Saora

A Indian/Southeast Asian culturally specific experience involving spiritual/supernatural explanations, including spirit-related experiences

Kufungisisa

Cultural concepts from Zimbabwe/Shona

Kufungisisa

A cultural concept from Zimbabwe/Shona that is associated with thinking too much. Excessive worry/rumination linked with emotional and physical distress

Latah

Amok

Bangungot

Southeast Asian Cultural Concepts

Latah

A Southeast Asian cultural concept characterized by an exaggerated startle response, sometimes followed by automatic repetition, imitation, or obedience

Amok

A Southeast Asian cultural concept that involves a sudden episode of intense rage and aggressive/violent behavior. Sometimes followed by amnesia

Bangungot

A Southeast Asian culturally shaped concept, originating from the Philippines, surrounding frightening nightmares/sleep experiences, sometimes involving chest pressure or sleep-paralysis-like experiences

Zar

Amafufunyana

Ufufunyane

Brain Fag

African Cultural Concepts

Zar

A cultural concept from Northern & Eastern Africa that is a spirit-related trance/possession phenomenon, involving culturally recognized spirits

Amafufunyana

Southern African cultural concept involving spirit possession/supernatural influence, with unusual behavior or experiences

Ufufunyane

Southern African cultural concept that is very closely related to Amafufunyana. It is often treated as a variant/closely related term rather than a completely separate disorder

Brain Fag

Southern African cultural concept historically described particularly among West African students. It is the mental/physical exhaustion associated with academic stress

Maladi Moun

Susto

Ataque de Nervios

Mal de Ojo

Cultural Concepts from Latin America

Maladi Moun

A cultural concept from Haiti/Caribbean that is called “People sickness." It is distress/illness attributed to other people, interpersonal relationships, or harmful social influence

Susto

A Latin cultural concept characterized by distress following a frightening event, sometimes explained through soul/spirit separation

Ataque de Nervios

A Latin cultural concept that is an intense emotional episode involving crying, shouting, trembling, aggression, palpitations, etc.

Mal de Ojo

Latin cultural concept of the Evil eye. An illness believed to result from harmful/envious gaze

Pibloktoq

Wendigo

Cultural Concepts from Inuit/Arctic

Pibloktoq

A cultural concept from Inuit/Arctic historically described as sudden extreme agitation/unusual behavior, including screaming, disrobing, confusion, etc.

Wendigo / Windigo

A culturally specific supernatural concept from Inuit/Arctic that involves becoming/being a cannibalistic supernatural being

Uppgivenhetssyndrom

Swedish Cultural Concepts

Uppgivenhetssyndrom

A cultural concept from Sweden that involves extreme withdrawal/shutdown, particularly described among some refugee children experiencing severe psychosocial stress

Ghost Sickness

Indigenous Cultural Concepts

Ghost Sickness

An indigenous cultural concept characterized by the distress attributed to dead people/spirits

Clinical Lycanthropy

A concept that is not strictly culture bound. It is the belief that one has transformed into or is transforming into an animal, commonly a wolf