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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

A critical review of Chinese Koro.

Koro is generally considered a culture-bound psychiatric syndrome, the dominant feature of which is anxiety or dissociation. A close examination of koro epidemics in China, where koro cases appear to be more frequent than other parts of the world, shows that koro has a sociocultural component which has not been sufficiently taken into account in previous formulations. This article analyzes koro in the natural environment in which it appears and dispels the notion of koro being individual psychopathology. Koro, at least the way it is manifested in China, is a social malady maintained by cultural beliefs which affect the whole community and not just those diagnosed with it. Further directions for research into the subject are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

The social psychology of 'epidemic' koro.

The few isolated reports of individual koro exhibit a symptomatology indicative of major psychiatric conditions (ie. psychosis or affective disorder), and appear unrelated to collective episodes which involve social, cultural, cognitive and physiological factors in the diffusion of koro-related beliefs. Yet, koro 'epidemics' continue to be viewed as exemplifying mass psychopathology or irrationality. An examination of the similarities between koro 'outbreaks' and a sub-category of behaviour which has been loosely labeled as 'mass hysteria', suggests an alternative, non-psychopathological explanation. In reclassifying 'epidemic' koro as a collective misperception rather than a culture-bound syndrome, it is argued that koro is a rational attempt at problem-solving which involves conformity dynamics, perceptual fallibility and the local acceptance of koro-associated folk realities, which are capable of explaining such episodes as normal within any given population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Koro epidemics in Guangdong, China. A questionnaire survey.

Koro epidemics, characterized by panic due to fear of genital retraction, involving more than 2000 victims, mainly young men, occurred in Hainan Island and Leizhou Peninsula of Guangdong Province, China, in 1984-85 and 1987. A questionnaire survey of 214 victims of these epidemics was conducted in 1988. The survey focused on symptom manifestation, personality profile, life problems, and folk belief. The results of the "koro" group were compared with those of a "clinic" group with minor psychiatric disorder and a "control" group from the non-clinical, non-koro episode population in the epidemic area. The results revealed that the victims of the koro epidemics were characterized by low intellectual endowment and strong acceptance of koro-related folk beliefs. The results support the hypotheses that: a) a koro attack is a psychologically induced anxiety-panic condition; b) the presence of an intensive belief in the culturally related concept of koro makes the subject vulnerable to the attack; and c) social crisis or tension serves as a trigger for the occurrence of the epidemic.

China↗
PubMed1996

The definition and classification of Koro.

Attempts at defining and classifying Koro have been undertaken by various researchers over at least the last fifty years without any consensus emerging to date. The occurrence of Koro, not only in different parts of the world but also in association with varied morbidities, has of late diluted its primary identity as a culture-bound syndrome. Further, the DSM-IIIR and ICD-10 provisions to include culture-bound syndromes like Koro are open to various diagnostic options. Consideration was given to have it included in DSM-IV. One of the fundamental problems inherent in such attempts is the semantic confusion Koro generates in its basic phenomenological analysis. The present paper deals with some of these issues based on historical analysis of world Koro literature, and with comments on the future research agendum.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed1995

The koro (genital retraction) syndrome and its association with infertility: a case report.

The koro syndrome is a psychiatric disorder characterized by acute anxiety and a deep-seated fear of shrinkage of the penis and its ultimate retraction into the abdomen, which will cause death. Concurrence of the koro (genital retraction) syndrome with a pathological condition of the urogenital system has rarely been described. We report a case of koro associated with infertility. Within 3 weeks of treatment with haloperidol the classic symptoms of koro disappeared. To our knowledge this case represents the sixth report of the koro syndrome associated with urogenital pathology and the first report of its association with infertility.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Koro: computed tomography and brain electrical activity mapping in two patients.

In koro, the sensation of penile retraction is coupled with an intense fear that death will occur once the retraction is complete. Koro has been reported mainly in Southeast Asia, and it occurs in both epidemic and sporadic forms. Two cases, the first each in natives of Haiti and Ethiopia, are presented. Similarities between them and computed tomography and brain electrical activity mapping data are used to support the concept that sporadic koro may be a form of right temporoparietal or bitemporoparietal dysfunction similar to sexual epilepsy. The hypothesis is advanced that epidemic koro occurs in permissive cultures when groups of individuals imitate sporadic koro.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Penis-root perception of Koro patients.

Koro is an acute anxiety reaction in which the perception of decreased penis length because of intra-abdominal traction is the main feature. This study attempts to explore the penis-root perception of the Koro patients by a graphomotor projective test--the Draw-a-penis Test (DAPT). This controlled DAPT investigation shows that Koro patients perceived the penis as a detached organ with root-boundary definiteness as evidenced from their close penis-root perception. They also displayed reduced volumetric perception of penis-root than the normal subjects. These perceptual deviations in penis-root image are discussed in relation to their Koro vulnerability.

Body Image↗
PubMed1993

Glans penis perception of Koro patients.

Koro is a form of sexual neurosis in which a reaction of acute anxiety accompanies the perception of decreased penis length from intra-abdominal traction. This study attempts to explore the glans penis perception of Koro patients by a grapho-motor projective test--DAPT (Draw-a-penis Test). This controlled DAPT investigation shows that Koro patients have significantly less perception of glans penis than the controls. This perceptual deviation in glans penis image is discussed in relation to the sexual-behavioral profile and Koro vulnerability of the patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Koro associated with phobia for AIDS.

Koro, in its complete, classic form has been described as a culture bound syndrome. It usually occurs in otherwise healthy individuals in the context of acute, severe anxiety. The incomplete form of Koro is said to occur as part of a recognizable primary psychiatric disorder. A case report is presented for the first time of Koro in association with phobia for AIDS. A cognitive-behavioral approach was utilized in the management of the AIDS phobia and symptoms of Koro.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1984

Indigenous Koro, a genital retraction syndrome of insular Southeast Asia: a critical review.

Koro, a disorder characterized by complaints of genital hyperinvolution and fear of impending death, is found to be indigenous to certain populations of insular Southeast Asia. Koro is similar to, but nevertheless distinct from, the Chinese syndrome which carries its name and serves as the transcultural prototype; the category of genital retraction syndromes is proposed as a substitute for the use of "koro" as the transcultural rubric. In a review of the Koro literature, an exploration of the many possible cultural and biomedical factors is begun; the issues and perspectives are relevant to the wider study of culture specific manifestations of genital retraction.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Penile perception of Koro patients.

Koro, a state where the perception of penis length decreases due to shrinkage from intra-abdominal traction, constitutes the central pathology. The present study was an attempt to explore the penis perception of the Koro patients by devising a graphomotor projective test, the Draw-a-penis Test (DAPT). DAPT elicited the penis image of the drawer, both of a normal penis and own penis perception. It also elicited the nature of perceptual process concerning the penile state changes, i.e. from flaccid to extended state. This controlled DAPT investigation showed a perceptual abnormality of penis image of Koro patients. They perceived less penis length, both for the penis of a normal person and their own penis and failed to perceive effectively the morphological change of penile states in terms of length increase. This perceptual abnormality in organ image is discussed in relation to the Koro vulnerability and psychopathology.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Dysmorphic penis image perception: the root of Koro vulnerability. A longitudinal study.

Koro is an acute anxiety reaction in which the perception of decreased penis length because of hyperinvolution from intra-abdominal traction is the main feature. In an earlier study the author reported that, despite having an average length penis, Koro patients perceived smaller penis length, in both the flaccid and extended state, than did normal subjects. To examine the influence of response bias on the dysmorphic penis length perception, a longitudinal study was undertaken, in which the Draw-a-penis Test, a graphomotor projective test, was administered on the same Koro patients 3 times over 2 years. The patients showed a remarkable constancy in their perception of penis length. The dysmorphic quality of own-penis perception is discussed in relation to Koro vulnerability.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Sporadic Koro and marital dysharmony.

A case of Koro is described in a Malaysian Chinese man in the setting of martial dysharmony and sexual rejection. A distinction is suggested between the epidemic form of Koro and the Koro symptom occurring sporadically. Existence of the sporadic Koro syndrome is discussed and a unified classificatory system is proposed.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Koro: how culturally specific?

Koro has been described as an acute anxiety state related to the fear of penile shrinkage into the abdomen with resultant death. This partial depersonalization disorder is found primarily among the people of the Malay Archipelago and Southern Chinese, with extremely rare incidences documented in the West. The symptomology of Koro is commonly said to be linked to ancient Chinese medical beliefs on sexual functioning and is therefore referred to as a culturally bound syndrome. Our paper summarized the case of an American male with Koro-like symptoms. It compares the Western concept of penis loss to the Chinese or Malaysian concept, and then proposes a combined hypothesis for the development of Koro.

Anxiety, Castration↗
PubMed1988

Koro secondary to a tumour of the corpus callosum.

The concurrent appearance of the koro syndrome and pathology of the central nervous system is quite rare. A case of a patient with a diagnosed tumour in the genu of the corpus callosum, who displayed typical koro symptoms, is presented. A short series of electroconvulsive shock treatments brought about resolution of the koro symptoms. Neurological investigation of all sporadic cases of koro is deemed necessary, to exclude cerebral involvement.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Genital pain associated with genital retraction: a case of Koro syndrome.

Koro is a unique psychiatric disorder in which acute anxiety accompanies the perception of genital retraction. This case report describes a case of Koro syndrome associated with penile and scrotal pain. A review of the literature has not shown any previous report of Koro associated with genital pain.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Koro following cannabis smoking: two case reports.

Koro in the background of drug abuse is quite rare. The present report of Koro during the first experience with cannabis is the only account of its kind in the world Koro literature to date. The nature and extent of this genital depersonalization is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Genital retraction syndrome in Korean woman. A case of Koro in Hungary.

Koro is a culture-specific psychiatric disorder occurring primarily in Southeast Asian cultures. It is manifested by acute anxiety associated with the fear of genital retraction, accompanied by fear of death induced by the thought that complete disappearance of the genital organ will result in death. Koro has been described in non-Asian patients as well, leading to a debate concerning the culture-specific nature of the syndrome. Giving a psychopathological, nosological definition of this peculiar syndrome is also problematic. In this paper, we report a case of koro in a young, Korean female patient. We briefly present the etiological factors related to the development of the syndrome and the most significant psychopathological characteristics.

Acculturation↗