Anthropophobia (Taijin Kyofusho) beyond the Boundaries of a Culture-Bound Syndrome: A Case Series from India

Abstract

that ORS involved a "contrite" reaction, such as repeated hand-washing, excessive use of perfumes and deodorants, frequently changing clothes, and restricting social contact. 7 The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) characterizes anthropophobia as a subcategory of social phobias. 10 As per DSM-5, ORS is classified under "Other Specified Obsessive Compulsive Disorders" a variant of TK. 11,12 Similarly ICD-11 has considered ORS under obsessive compulsive and related disorders (OCRDs). 13,14 Majority of these cases might have been diagnosed as phobias; hence, there is a lack of literature on this condition. The absence of sufficient reports on the distinct psychopathological profile of anthropophobia, 2 limited data on its prevalence, 1 and the ongoing debate over its classification in the diagnostic systems 15 make this disorder inimitable and worthy of research. To the authors' knowledge, no case has been reported so far in the Indian context. This case series illustrates two cases, highlighting the challenges in assessment and the treatment outcomes.

Morita Therapy By Shoma Morita for Fear of Blushing

“…To the editor, I read with interest Tanuja et al's paper about the first Taijin Kyofusho (TKS) case series from India. 1 TKS is originally a Japanese word, similar in meaning to social anxiety disorder, and characterized by intense fear from interpersonal situations related to thoughts, feelings, or the conviction that one's body parts or functions in social interactions are inadequate or offensive to others. 2 Although TKS has often been reported to have originated in Japan and is defined in the DSM-5 as a culture-based symptom, the case series from India indicates that it is found globally and may transcend cultures.…”

What Are They Gonna Think About Me? An Innovative Text Analysis on Social Anxiety and Taijin Kyofusho Through MADIT Methodology

“…The distinctive symptoms of taijin kyofusho occur especially in societies that place a strong emphasis on the self-conscious maintenance of appropriate social behaviour in hierarchical interpersonal relationships, especially in Japan (Essau et al, 2012a, b;Woody et al, 2015): in Japanese, taijin means "in relation to others" and kyofusho "fear or phobia"; namely "fear of others" (Zhang et al, 2001;Bhardwaj et al, 2021), but also in Korean (APA, 2013;Vriends et al, 2013). For these reasons, as can also be seen from the definition reported above, DSM-5 conceptualises Taijin Kyofusho as a "cultural syndrome", meaning that it occurs especially in specific cultural contexts.…”