Koro: Clinical and Historical Developments of the Culturally Defined Genital Retraction Disorder

This book provides a comprehensive account of koro, a fear of the genitals shrinking and retracting, exploring its cultural, historical, and clinical significance. Written by Professor A.N. Chowdhury, a leading expert in the field, it includes cutting-edge critique and an analysis of research from the past 120 years. The book discusses the concept of culture-bound disorder and its development, and offers a cultural symbolic analysis of associations with animals and phallic imagery. It also provides a global literature review, addresses risk assessment and forensic issues, and discusses research methodology. This landmark work is a valuable resource for clinicians and researchers in cultural psychiatry, psychology, anthropology, medical sociology, social work, and psychosexual medicine.

Format: Hardback
Length: 518 pages
Publication date: 22 December 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate realm of koro, a topic of longstanding interest in cultural psychiatry. Written by Professor A.N. Chowdhury, a renowned expert in the field, it offers a thorough exploration of the cultural, historical, and clinical significance of this condition. Spanning over 120 years of published literature, the book provides a cutting-edge critique alongside an in-depth analysis of research and accounts.

The book begins by defining koro as a culture-bound syndrome, tracing its etymology and clinical features. It contextualizes the concept within its historical origins in Southeast Asia and its subsequent widespread occurrence in South Asia. Moreover, it critically examines the concept of culture-bound disorder and the development of terminology such as cultural concepts of distress, which is currently used in the DSM-5.

Subsequent chapters delve into the cultural contexts of koro in Chinese and South Asian cultures, employing cultural symbolic analysis to explore associations with animals and phallic imagery. These chapters shed light on the troubling self-perceived aspects of body image that underpin the concept of koro.

The second section of the book presents a comprehensive global literature review, encompassing a wide range of perspectives and research methodologies. It addresses the current status and relevance of koro, explores clinically relevant questions of risk assessment and forensic issues, and discusses research methodologies.

This landmark work serves as a valuable resource for clinicians and researchers working in cultural psychiatry, cultural psychology, anthropology, medical sociology, social work, and psychosexual medicine. It deepens our understanding of the complexities of cultural expressions and their impact on mental health, offering insights into the diverse tapestry of human experiences worldwide.

Weight: 837g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030879617
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021