Mass psychogenic illness: examples

Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .

Mass psychogenic illness: examples. Demonic possession in nunneries in Europe. Fully referenced neurology checklist.

Historical examples

  • Demonic possession in nunneries in Europe
  • Sensation of suffocation in work places in England
  • Demonic possession among girls in Malaysia
  • Hysterical outbreaks of toxic gas anxiety in schools
  • Illness following vaccination in schools in Jordan
  • Fainting and twitching following HPV vaccination in schools in Colombia
  • Recurrent poison gas delusions in many parts of the world
  • Breathing problems during the Gulf War
  • Respiratory difficulties following the World Trade Centre attacks
  • Sick building syndrome in offices

Recent examples

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Synonym

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References

  1. Bartholomew RE, Wessely S. Protean nature of mass sociogenic illness: from possessed nuns to chemical and biological terrorism fears. Br J Psychiatry 2002; 180:300-306.
  2. Tarafder BK, Khan MA, Islam MT, et al. Mass psychogenic illness: demography and symptom profile of an episode. Psychiatry J 2016; 2016:2810143.
  3. Kharabsheh S, Al-Otoum H, Clements J, et al. Mass psychogenic illness following tetanus-diphtheria toxoid vaccination in Jordan. Bull World Health Organ 2001; 79:764-770.
  4. Simas C, Munoz N, Arregoces L, Larson HJ. HPV vaccine confidence and cases of mass psychogenic illness following immunization in Carmen de Bolivar, Colombia. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2019; 15:163-166.
  5. Müller-Vahl KR, Pisarenko A, Jakubovski E, Fremer C. Stop that! It's not Tourette's but a new type of mass sociogenic illness. Brain 2022; 145:476-480.
  6. And 3 more. Subscribe to see the full list

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