Koro

A disorder described in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sudan and Israel.
In humans, there is an acute and overwhelming fear of death due to the retraction of the penis deep into the abdomen or loss of semen in men, and the breasts deep into the chest in women. In women, koro may take the form of a fear of shrinking of the breasts or labia. Sometimes these symptoms may be accompanied by disturbance of consciousness. The condition may be preceded by excessive and exhaustive mating. The genital organs and semen are regarded by tribal peoples as the centre of life force. The family of a man suffering from Koro uses a variety of grips or suspended weights to hold the penis preventing its loss. The condition can last from a few hours to several days. The syndrome was first described by Mathes in 1874.

Susto

A disorder found among Latin American peoples.
It consists of the fear of 'losing one's soul'. This loss can be the result of someone's 'evil eye', witchcraft, magic or the action of demons. Susto usually begins as anxiety with severe vegetative agitation. Prolonged anxiety can lead to loss of interest, anorexia, loss of activity, increased body temperature and even cachexia and death.

Enchantment

Cases of enchantment have been described in Nigeria.
It involves a belief in impotence caused by a witch doctor. Such a belief is accompanied by anxiety, lowered mood and various vegetative symptoms of fear.

Frigophobia (Pa-leng)

Described in areas of China and Japan.
The fear of cold and death due to loss of vitality leads people to put on many layers of clothing. This does not necessarily happen in winter; people suffering from frigophobia also wear winter coverings in hot weather. The disorder can lead to death due to exhaustion.

Ufufuyane

A disorder described in unmarried girls of the Zuchu tribe in Africa.
The girls experience intense daydreams with stereotypical content. They include visions of floods, dead people, crowds of low and black-bearded people, snakes and baboons. Experiencing these nightmares is a source of anxiety and fear of sleep. This state may be preceded by the sight of a man or an alien.

Thanatomania (also known as Voo-Doo death)

Cases of this disorder have been described among South American Indians and Central African blacks.
It is an example of an acute stress reaction. A person who breaks a taboo fears the wrath of the gods and tribe members. For this reason, he leaves the tribe and dies after 1-2 days. Thanatomania is an example of acute stress reaction. The disorder was first described by Cannon.

Latah

A disorder found in southern Asia and the Philippines, Japan and Siberia.
At the sight of a snake or tiger (or even at the sound of these words), a person becomes panic-stricken, depressed and catatonic. This may be accompanied by disturbances of consciousness, coprolalia, copropraxia, echoic phenomena (echomimia, echopraxia, echolalia). The seizure usually lasts a short time and ends with excitement and disorderly running away ahead.

Hsieh-Ping

Described in China.
This disorder occurs mainly in women. They experience trance-like states. A person in this state identifies with a deceased person whom she has offended during her lifetime.

Pibloktoq

A disorder described among Inuit women.
A woman in this state cries, screams, runs through the snow and jumps into the water. This is followed by sleep, after which the woman wakes up without disturbance. The condition is also known as Arctic hysteria.