“Koro and Migration”: Observational Study of an Outbreak of Koro in a Migrant Population Working in South India

Koro is a culture-bound syndrome, common in India, characterized by the belief that one’s genitals are shrinking followed by the fear of impending death. Significant social stressors can precipitate this syndrome in vulnerable populations. One such factor is migration which is associated with increased vulnerability to neurosis and poor coping. It has been a less studied factor in the genesis of Koro and the same has been an interesting association in this study. Methods: There was an outbreak of Koro (13 cases: 8 males and 5 females) among a population (n = 52) from east and middle India who had migrated to the south for manual work. These cases presented in clusters to our psychiatry outpatient department within a span of 2 weeks. We did an observational study to explore the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of these patients. Their perceptions and attributions to the illness were also reported. Results: Most patients were married men with lower socioeconomic status and no formal education. More females were however affected than earlier reported data. Most patients knew about the illness and believed that it was contagious. Death anxiety, loss of libido, and insomnia were common associated complaints. Males feared impotence, whereas females feared of “loss of child-bearing” abilities. The major attributing factors to the illness were migration, the stigma of working near a “mental hospital,” and sharing shelter with the affected. Pharmacotherapy and single-session cognitive behavioral therapy were used for treatment. Conclusions: Our study revealed unique clinical correlates and belief-systems of patients affected with Koro. It is time we stop seeing it just as “culture-bound syndrome” and begin seeing it also as a social disorder caused by distortion of body-related beliefs. Migration being a significant environmental stressor can often precipitate such culture-bound syndromes. Further mixed-method studies are warranted.