Abstract
Suicide in Japan occurs in situations which possess a traditional aspect that is rarely found elsewhere. In contrast with other countries there is a concen tration of successful suicide in early and in late adult life in Japan. In an attempt to explain these phenomena DEVOS successfully combines psychological and sociological theories. He adds the role narcissistic type of suicide to the three classical types described by Durkheim. HAH reporting from Seoul (Korea) notes that in contrast with American patients hysterical patients with classical symptoms predominate over those complaining of pain. He ex plains this difference in terms of cultural differences. Three case histories of patients suffering from Frigophobia are presented by RIN (Taiwan). Though some clinical analogies with Euro-American patients exist, Chinese traditional beliefs can be shown to be relevant to the manifested symptomatology of Chinese patients; similarities and dissimilarities between Frigophobia and Koro (suo-yang), another culturebound Chinese psychiatric disorder, are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.