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Understanding Genital-Shrinking Epidemics in West Africa: Koro, Juju, or Mass Psychogenic Illness?

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Abstract

A small-scale epidemic of genital shrinking occurred in six West African nations between January 1997 and October 2003. This article presents a summary and analysis of 56 media reports of these cases. A clinical formulation of these cases considers a variety of explanations from theory and research in social and cultural psychology, psychopathology, and anthropology. Of particular interest is a comparison of genital-shrinking distress in West African settings with koro, a culture-bound syndrome involving fears of genital retraction that is prominent in Southeast Asian settings. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of the role of culture in both the experience of genital-shrinking distress and conceptions of psychopathology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Fayetteville State University, 1200 Murchison St, Fayetteville, NC, 28311, USA

    Vivian Afi Dzokoto

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Kansas, 1415 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS, 66045-7556, USA

    Glenn Adams

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  1. Vivian Afi Dzokoto
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  2. Glenn Adams
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Correspondence to Vivian Afi Dzokoto.

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Dzokoto, V.A., Adams, G. Understanding Genital-Shrinking Epidemics in West Africa: Koro, Juju, or Mass Psychogenic Illness?. Cult Med Psychiatry 29, 53–78 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11013-005-4623-8

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