The Koro Pattern of Depersonalization in an American Schizophrenic Patient

Abstract

The author distinguishes the "koro pattern of depersonalization" from "koro," the folk illness. The former is probably universal in its distribution and more common than generally supposed; an example in an American schizophrenic is described. The interpretation of the sensation of penile shrinkage varies from culture to culture and age to age. In certain Eastern countries folk belief allows for the occurrence of "koro," although formerly the experience may have been regarded as due to witchcraft.