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Mass family hysteria: A report from India
Author(s) -
MATTOO SURENDRA K.,
GUPTA NITIN,
LOBANA APRAJITA,
BEDI BALRAJ
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1819.2002.01069.x
Subject(s) - hysteria , religiosity , context (archaeology) , psychiatry , conversion disorder , psychology , vomiting , medicine , social psychology , history , anesthesia , archaeology
The case of a 31‐member family displaying mass hysteria in up to 10 members at one time is reported. The mass hysteria emerged in the context of the strong religious and cultural beliefs held by this closely knit family. The varied presentations included somatoform disorder, recurrent vomiting, conversion, dissociative and possession attacks. Two members had bipolar affective disorder that was recognized by the family as a ‘medical’ illness in contrast to other problems attributed to religiosity. The rarity of mass hysteria in a family and issues related to its medical and social management are highlighted.