Citation

Imai H, Ogawa Y, Okumiya K, Matsubayashi K. Hist. Psychiatry 2019; 30(1): 38-57.

Affiliation

Kyoto University, Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0957154X18803499

PMID

30251875

Abstract

The conceptualization of psychiatric disorders changes continuously. This study examined 'amok', a culture-bound syndrome related to sudden mass homicide, to elucidate changing and varied concepts. A historical review of 88 English articles revealed that the meanings and assumed causes of amok have changed over time. These changes appear to have been affected by social events, medical discoveries, knowledge of descriptors and occasionally, the benefit to users. In other words, the concept of amok changes depending on the history of society and the knowledge and intention of people at the time. We should consider in detail what we focus on when diagnosing a disorder.

Language: en

Keywords

Amok; Indonesia; concept of disorder; culture-bound syndrome; history