[The syndrome of genital retraction from a transcultural psychiatric point of view. Chinese suo yang, Indonesian koro and non-Asian forms (koro-like symptoms)].

Das Syndrom der genitalen Retraktion aus Sicht der transkulturellen Psychiatrie. Chinesisches Suo yang, indonesisches Koro und nichtasiatische Formen (Koro-ähnliche Symptome).

Publisher: Springer Verlag Country of Publication: Germany NLM ID: 0400773 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 0028-2804 (Print) Linking ISSN: 00282804 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Nervenarzt Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Berlin : Springer Verlag

Cultural Characteristics*; Ethnicity/*psychology ; Fear/*psychology ; Genital Diseases, Male/*ethnology ; Genital Diseases, Male/*psychology ; Psychophysiologic Disorders/*ethnology ; Psychophysiologic Disorders/*psychology; Asia ; China ; Genital Diseases, Male/diagnosis ; Humans ; Indonesia ; Male ; Psychophysiologic Disorders/diagnosis ; Syndrome

The present article reviews the syndrome of genital retraction (SGR) from the perspective of transcultural psychiatry. It is best known as a culture-bound syndrome in Asia, e. g. koro in Indonesia or suo yang in Southern China, where it can be also observed in so-called epidemics. The syndrome is characterised by the sensation that the genitals are shrinking and being pulled back into the abdomen; this perception is associated with fear of death, because the subjects expect to die as soon as the genital has disappeared completely. Particularly in the case of suo yang, the involvement of local traditional concepts of illness can be established. In the Western world, however, SGR is observed only in single cases. The symptoms are less dramatic and do not show a particular cultural context. This form of SGR is called "koro-like" (koro-like symptoms, KLS). In contrast to the Asian form, KLS are not observed in healthy subjects, but as an unspecific syndrome related to other neuropsychiatric illnesses. In this review, we compare both forms of the SGR in terms of symptoms, cultural aspects and therapeutic strategies.

91

J Nerv Ment Dis. 1992 Feb;180(2):117-23. (PMID: 1737973)
Can Psychiatr Assoc J. 1976 Oct;21(6):389-92. (PMID: 13924)
Br J Psychiatry. 1984 Sep;145:335. (PMID: 6478130)
J Urol. 2000 Jan;163(1):243. (PMID: 10604364)
J Nerv Ment Dis. 1994 Oct;182(10):590-1. (PMID: 7931210)
Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr. 2003 Feb;71(2):103-7. (PMID: 12579473)
Int J Soc Psychiatry. 1985 Spring;31(1):67-73. (PMID: 3972494)
Br J Psychiatry. 1965 Jan;111:43-50. (PMID: 14261727)
J Psychoactive Drugs. 1993 Jul-Sep;25(3):257-8. (PMID: 8258765)
Br J Psychiatry. 1994 Apr;164(4):559-61. (PMID: 8038952)
Br J Psychiatry. 1988 Jun;152:851-2. (PMID: 3167477)
Am J Psychiatry. 1990 Dec;147(12):1670-4. (PMID: 2244647)
Urology. 1994 Jun;43(6):883-5. (PMID: 8197657)
Br J Psychiatry. 1987 Nov;151:695-7. (PMID: 3446317)
Zhonghua Shen Jing Jing Shen Ke Za Zhi. 1987 Aug;20(4):232-4. (PMID: 3440411)
Am J Psychiatry. 1970 Feb;126(8):1171-3. (PMID: 5411375)
Singapore Med J. 1963 Sep;3:119-22. (PMID: 14075735)
J Clin Psychiatry. 2000 Dec;61(12):951. (PMID: 11206606)
Br J Psychiatry. 1968 Aug;114(513):945-8. (PMID: 5693420)
Ir Med J. 1996 Mar-Apr;89(2):75-6. (PMID: 8682636)
East Mediterr Health J. 1999 May;5(3):611-3. (PMID: 10793842)
Br J Psychiatry. 1986 Oct;149:503-5. (PMID: 3814937)
Schweiz Arch Neurol Neurochir Psychiatr. 1977;120(2):257-9. (PMID: 905791)
Br J Psychiatry. 1984 Sep;145:331-4. (PMID: 6478129)
Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 1985 Dec;19(4):433-8. (PMID: 3869009)
Br J Psychiatry. 1992 Jan;160:119-21. (PMID: 1543992)
Int J STD AIDS. 1998 Mar;9(3):175-6. (PMID: 9530906)
Anxiety. 1996;2(1):53-5. (PMID: 9160601)
Br J Psychiatry. 1988 Aug;153:251-4. (PMID: 3255443)
Am J Psychiatry. 1988 Dec;145(12):1538-43. (PMID: 3264117)
Addiction. 1994 Aug;89(8):1017-20. (PMID: 7950848)
Int J Soc Psychiatry. 1965;11:7-13. (PMID: 14283568)
Br J Psychiatry. 1981 Feb;138:180-1. (PMID: 7260504)
Int J Soc Psychiatry. 1987 Spring;33(1):42-5. (PMID: 3583604)
Lancet. 1982 Nov 20;2(8308):1161. (PMID: 6128477)
Br J Urol. 1995 Jan;75(1):108-9. (PMID: 7850282)
Nervenarzt. 2005 Jul;76(7):883, 885-7. (PMID: 15517135)
Cult Med Psychiatry. 1984 Mar;8(1):1-24. (PMID: 6734245)
J Fla Med Assoc. 1973 Oct;60(10):32-4. (PMID: 11662083)
Lancet. 1978 Dec 16;2(8103):1319. (PMID: 82833)
Psychoanal Rev. 1948 Jul;35(3):285-9. (PMID: 18891192)
Br J Psychiatry. 1990 Jul;157:142-4. (PMID: 2397349)
Can Psychiatr Assoc J. 1972 Aug;17(4):333-4. (PMID: 4640438)
Confin Psychiatr. 1977;20(2-3):180-4. (PMID: 144578)
Singapore Med J. 1969 Dec;10(4):234-42. (PMID: 5371145)
Am J Psychiatry. 1987 Dec;144(12):1621. (PMID: 3688293)
Bull Inst Marit Trop Med Gdynia. 1988;39(1-2):108-10. (PMID: 3252941)
J Urol. 2000 Jul;164(1):123. (PMID: 10840440)
J Clin Psychiatry. 2002 Dec;63(12):1182-3. (PMID: 12530418)
J Clin Psychiatry. 1998 Feb;59(2):86-7. (PMID: 9501896)
Can J Psychiatry. 1981 Mar;26(2):140-1. (PMID: 7260820)
Med Clin (Barc). 1990 Sep 22;95(9):358-9. (PMID: 2280625)
Br J Psychiatry. 1983 Sep;143:309-10. (PMID: 6626846)
Lancet. 1979 Jan 20;1(8108):163. (PMID: 84189)
Psychopathology. 1998;31(4):174-7. (PMID: 9697160)
Br J Psychiatry. 1985 Jan;146:102-3. (PMID: 3978327)
Br J Psychiatry. 1991 May;158:721. (PMID: 1860036)
Ann Med Psychol (Paris). 1968 May;126(5):749-51. (PMID: 5678236)
Indian J Psychiatry. 1982 Apr;24(2):192-3. (PMID: 21965912)
Am J Psychiatry. 1996 May;153(5):736. (PMID: 8615432)
Indian J Psychiatry. 1982 Oct;24(4):370-4. (PMID: 21965940)
Br J Psychiatry. 1988 Nov;153:711-2. (PMID: 3255467)
Am J Psychother. 1989 Jan;43(1):87-91. (PMID: 2929797)
Br J Psychiatry. 1987 Jan;150:133. (PMID: 3651668)
Addiction. 2001 Nov;96(11):1663-6. (PMID: 11784462)
Int J Soc Psychiatry. 1983 Winter;29(4):265-8. (PMID: 6642919)

Date Created: 20041113 Date Completed: 20050927 Latest Revision: 20211203

20221213

10.1007/s00115-004-1822-4

15536522