Mass psychogenic illness: diagnostic criteria

Evidence-based neurology checklist on mass psychogenic illness: diagnostic criteria: Defining features There is a rapid spread of the symptoms of illness without a corresponding organic cause It affects members of a defined cohesive group It usually reflects the social and cultural preoccupations…

Defining features

  • There is a rapid spread of the symptoms of illness without a corresponding organic cause
  • It affects members of a defined cohesive group
  • It usually reflects the social and cultural preoccupations of the affected people
  • It usually occurs when there is perceived threat which has a basis in reality
  • It manifests as excitation with loss or alteration of function
  • The symptoms are expressed unconsciously
  • There is no personality predisposition

Diagnostic criteria

Types

Historical examples

Recent examples

Triggers

Neurological symptoms

Verbal symptoms

Systemic symptoms

Synonym

References

  1. Bartholomew RE, Wessely S. Protean nature of mass sociogenic illness: from possessed nuns to chemical and biological terrorism fears. Br J Psychiatry 2002; 180:300-306.
  2. Weir E. Mass sociogenic illness. CMAJ 2005; 172:36.
  3. Tarafder BK, Khan MA, Islam MT, et al. Mass psychogenic illness: demography and symptom profile of an episode. Psychiatry J 2016; 2016:2810143.
  4. Kharabsheh S, Al-Otoum H, Clements J, et al. Mass psychogenic illness following tetanus-diphtheria toxoid vaccination in Jordan. Bull World Health Organ 2001; 79:764-770.
  5. Simas C, Munoz N, Arregoces L, Larson HJ. HPV vaccine confidence and cases of mass psychogenic illness following immunization in Carmen de Bolivar, Colombia. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2019; 15:163-166.
  6. And 3 more. Subscribe to see the full list

Related checklists

Loading...