The Epidemic Hysteria Dilemma

Cartter, Matthew L.; Mshar, P.; Burdo, Harold

doi:10.1001/archpedi.1989.02150150019001

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Finally, biases against the acceptability of psychogenic illness among health professionals as well as the public frequently leave us unwilling to even consider the possibility of epidemic hysteria, especially when doing so involves labeling ill children as hysterical (17). Negative reactions to the suggestion of psychogenic illness are documented from parents (3,46,71), the school (46,64), and the occupational setting (46). Even today, when outbreaks are investigated and found to have an apparently psychologic cause, often no attempt to understand the illness further is made beyond publishing the results of the investigation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Contagion can be enhanced by being in physical and visual proximity to those who are ill (1,18,56); the general excitement, including that caused by emergency personnel and equipment (3,5,14,17,24,30,44,50,56,61,63,68,69); the presence of the media (5,27,30,32,50,(68)(69)(70) and reports by them (5,9,10,24,57,69,71); reuniting of the group (5,56,72); litigation or monetary compensation (10,(73)(74)(75); labeling of the illness with a specific clinical diagnostic term (34,73,74,76,77); and the persistence of rumors (56,63,78).…”

Section: Enhancement Of the Outbreakmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Epidemic Hysteria: A Review of the Published Literature

Boss

1997

Epidemiologic Reviews

132

128

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Enhancement Of the Outbreakmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemic Hysteria: A Review of the Published Literature

Boss

1997

Epidemiologic Reviews

132

128

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“…In one extreme example, Florida physician Joel Nitzkin received threatening phone calls from distraught parents, while Cartter et al (1989) noted that "some parents insisted that we had accused their children of faking symptoms" (p. 89). Instead, they should substitute such terms as "collective anxiety" and "mass psychogenic illness."…”

Section: Addressing the Mediamentioning

confidence: 99%

How Should Mental Health Professionals Respond to Outbreaks of Mass Psychogenic Illness?

Bartholomew¹,

Muniratnam

2011

J Cogn Psychother

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“…He has made a plea for positive diagnosis of psychological parameters in such outbreaks. However, some investigators report how various members within the affected communities often react with hostility to the assessment of the outbreaks as being of a psychological nature [13,19,24,35]. Parents are often reluctant to go along with that line of thought, received either as a blame or as negligence to find the 'real' cause.…”

Section: Public Health Reportsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemic Hysteria: School Outbreaks 1973–1993

Sirois¹

1999

Med Princ Pract

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Objective: Increased reporting of outbreaks has brought more familiarity with the syndrome but no more accurate knowledge about the nature and mechanisms of such episodes. As it has become an area for an expanding field of competitive explanations, the review is intended to find any additional epidemiological cues and any clarification about methods of investigating such outbreaks. Methods: The retrieval of data was organized upon a choice to have a homogeneous sample rather than a comprehensive one. Newspapers and sociological sources were left out. A Medline search with cross-referencing was conducted to select the outbreaks limited to the standard school type. Reports were examined from two points of view: the descriptive epidemiological parameters and the mode of reporting the outbreaks. Results: Forty-five episodes were studied. A historic shift in the manifest presentation is apparent: larger groups are involved for a shorter time. A period at risk has been identified: the last 2 months of the school calendar. The peak age of affected children is 12. A downward age spread is present in 14/20 episodes where suitable information is provided. Methods of reporting were classified into four categories: descriptive (n = 24), public health reports (n = 7), case-control (n = 7), case study (n = 7). Diagnosis of exclusion for environmental contamination is still a prevalent mode of reporting but does not make the outbreak intelligible. Conclusion: (1) A two-step approach is suggested: a simple environmental check for short and uneventful outbreaks; an intensive case study for any episode with long duration or recurrence. (2) Two hypotheses for future testing are proposed: a hypothesis of arousal, probably of a benign, age-specific, and sexual nature, in short simple cases; a hypothesis of conflict in the long or recurrent ones.

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The Epidemic Hysteria Dilemma

Cited by 7 publications

References 3 publications

Epidemic Hysteria: A Review of the Published Literature

Epidemic Hysteria: A Review of the Published Literature

How Should Mental Health Professionals Respond to Outbreaks of Mass Psychogenic Illness?

Epidemic Hysteria: School Outbreaks 1973–1993

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