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Mass Hysteria: One Syndrome or Two?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Abubakar Ali-Gombe ,
Elspeth Guthrie  and
Niall McDermott
Abubakar Ali-Gombe
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria
Elspeth Guthrie*
Affiliation:
Rawnsley Building, Manchester Royal Infirmary
Niall McDermott
Affiliation:
Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9BX
*
Dr E. Guthrie, Rawnsley Building, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9BX
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Abstract

Background

It has been suggested that mass hysteria can be divided into two syndromes; one with predominant features of anxiety and the other with predominant abnormalities of motor behaviour. In the former condition, prior tension is absent and spread is by visual contact In the latter, prior tension is present, initial cases can be identified and spread is gradual.

Method

The development and resolution of neurological symptoms in 156 Nigerian school girls were studied and a diagnosis of ‘mass hysteria’ made.

Results

The signs and symptoms manifested by the school girls during the outbreak of illness had features of both ‘anxiety’ and ‘motor’ predominant forms of mass hysteria.

Conclusions

Although there may be two patterns of symptom presentation in mass hysteria, other supposedly discrete features overlap. This weakens the argument that there are two separate syndromes.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 168 , Issue 5 , May 1996 , pp. 633 - 635
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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References

Benaim, S., Horder, J. & Anderson, J. (1973) Hysteria epidemic in a classroom. Psychological Medicine, 3, 366–373.Google Scholar
Small, G. W., Propper, M. W., Randolph, E. T., et al (1991) Mass hysteria among student performers: Social relationships as a symptom predictor. American Journal of Psychiatry, 148, 1200–1205.Google Scholar
Wessely, S. (1987) Mass hysteria: two syndromes? Psychological Medicine, 17, 109–120.Google Scholar
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