What is a psychogenic illness?

What is a psychogenic illness?

Classified as a “conversion disorder” by the DSM-IV, a psychogenic disease is a disease in which mental stressors cause physical symptoms of different diseases. The manifestation of physical symptoms without biologically identifiable causes results from disruptions of processes in the brain from psychological stress.

Is mass hysteria a mental illness?

People commonly use the term “mass hysteria” to describe a rapid spread of panic and fear. But the actual definition is a bit more complex. Experts largely consider mass hysteria a type of conversion disorder, or mental health condition that involves physical symptoms prompted by emotional or mental tension.

What are some examples of mass hysteria?

The incident remains one of the prime examples of mass hysteria. West Bank fainting epidemic (1983) – a series of incidents in March 1983 wherein 943 Palestinian teenage girls, mostly schoolgirls, and a small number of IDF women soldiers fainted or complained of feeling nauseous in the West Bank.

What are psychosomatic symptoms?

Common examples include:

  • Fatigue.
  • Insomnia.
  • Aches and pains, such as muscle pain or back pain.
  • High blood pressure (hypertension).
  • Trouble breathing (dyspnea, or shortness of breath).
  • Indigestion (upset stomach).
  • Headaches and migraines.
  • Erectile dysfunction (impotence).

What are symptoms of hysteria?

Symptoms of Hysteria

  • Blindness.
  • Emotional outbursts.
  • Hallucinations.
  • Histrionic behavior (being overly dramatic or excitable)
  • Increased suggestibility.
  • Loss of sensation.

What are the most common psychosomatic problems?

Is hysteria a real thing?

Hysteria is a 4,000-year-old diagnosis that has been applied to no mean parade of witches, saints and, of course, Anna O. But over the last 50 years, the word has been spoken less and less. The disappearance of hysteria has been heralded at least since the 1960’s.

  • August 5, 2022