(Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1995-09) Trangkasombat, Umaporn; Su-umpan, Umpon; Churujikul, Veera; Prinksulka, Kamthorn; Nukhew, Orawan; Haruhanpong, Vilailuk
In September 1993 an outbreak of illness at a school in the south of Thailand suddenly afflicted 32 girls aged 9-14 years. A study of epidemiologic and clinical aspects of the outbreak was done. Rapid resolution of symptoms, the absence of abnormal physical findings and failure to detect an organic cause indicated mass hysteria. The symptoms were dissociative in nature and in many cases resembled possession states. Of the affected students, 44% received psychiatric diagnoses. Higher rates of psychiatric diagnoses and stressful life events were found in girls with severe symptoms. Stresses in the community, cultural beliefs, individual psychopathology and group dynamics played major roles in the development of this epidemic.
