koro

ko·ro

(kō'rō),

A culture-bound acute delusional syndrome that occurs as localized epidemic at times. Those affected experience intense anxiety over the sensation of the penis in males, vulva and nipples in females, shriveling or being drawn into the body and the belief this may cause death. Found in the Makassarese, natives of the Celebes. Also reported in South and East Asia, occasionally in the West.

Synonym(s): shook jong

An unusual culture-bound desomatization complex, described in China and Malaysia, characterised by an intense abrupt fear that the penis in men, or nipples and vulva in women, are disappearing into the body and will cause death; the subject may attempt to ‘prevent’ his penis from shrinking and disappearing within his body by tying it to the outside of his body with various devices

koro

(kō′rō)

In China and Southeast Asia, a phobia that the penis will retract into the abdomen (or in females, that the nipples or vulva will retract into the chest or pelvis). The individual believes that once the sexual organ disappears completely, he or she will die.

koro

A delusional disorder of males in which the sufferer becomes convinced that his penis is shrinking and that when it disappears into his body, he will die. To prevent this, he will tie his penis to a heavy stone or persuade friends to hold it, in relays. The delusion is limited to certain areas in South-east Asia and relates to the belief that ghosts have no genitals. Epidemics occur.