A case of koro in a refugee family: Association with depression and folie à deux
Author(s):
Westermeyer, Joseph
Format:
Journal article
Citation:
Journal Of Clinical Psychiatry, Volume 50, Issue 5 (1989-05). pp. 181-183.
Language:
English
Abstract:
Describes a sporadic case of koro (a folk syndrome involving fear of genital retraction) accompanied by psychotic depression in a 31-yr-old Hmong refugee from Laos. The S's wife, who was also suffering a major depression, also believed that the patient was undergoing genital retraction with a potentially fatal outcome. The cultural, familial, and acculturative stresses associated with the syndrome are described. Resolution of the koro syndrome and its associated psychopathology required interventions on biomedical, psychological, familial, and sociocultural levels. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)