Main description:

Clinicians have long been fascinated by the rare and exotic in med icine. Similarly, psychiatrists and mental health professionals have been intrigued by the uncommon and extraordinary syndromes which, despite their rarity, have much to teach us about the limitless forms of human adaptation. Of particular interest is the fact that fragments and partial expressions of these rare disorders are often encountered in the dreams and fantasies of the "ordinary" patient. For this reason, the understanding and insights collected in this volume are likely to have clinical usefulness far beyond those rare occasions when we encounter the exotic in its fully developed form. These disorders demonstrate the complex interplay between intra psychic dynamic forces and the cultural influences which act to shape overt symptomatology. The section on extraordinary syndromes from non-Western cultures demonstrates the universality of the psychody namic roots of human suffering, despite the seemingly strange furms in which this suffering is expressed. As clinicians we are too often restricted by ethnocentric attitudes and culturally determined stereotypes. This volume provides a stimulating and enjoyable opportunity to reach beyond those limitations.

Contents:

1 La Folie a Deux.- Case Examples.- Epidemiology.- Subtypes of Folie a Deux.- Etiology.- Differential Diagnosis.- Treatment.- References.- 2 Munchausen Syndrome.- Historical Origins of the Munchausen Stories.- Case Reports.- Phenomenology of the Syndrome.- Etiologic Hypotheses of the Syndrome.- Treatment and Management.- Conclusions and Summary.- References.- 3 The Ganser Syndrome.- The Symptom of Approximate Answers.- What is the True Syndrome? A Review of Cases in the Literature.- Comment.- Etiology and Classification.- Conclusion.- References.- 4 Psychiatric Symptoms in Prisoner of War and Concentration Camp Survivors.- Examination of Stressors.- Methods of Coping.- Subsequent Course of Illness.- The Vietnam War.- Genesis of Syndrome.- Treatment of Syndrome.- References.- 5 Autoscopic Phenomena.- Epidemiology.- Review of the Literature on Causation.- Case Examples.- Discussion.- Summary.- References.- 6 Gilles de La Tourette Syndrome or Multiple Tic Disorder.- Definition.- History.- Epidemiology.- Symptoms.- Experimental and Laboratory Information.- Differential Diagnosis.- Treatment.- Prognosis.- Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc.- Conclusion.- References.- 7 The Paranoid-Erotic Syndromes.- The Capgras Syndrome.- Syndrome of Fregoli.- The Intermetamorphosis Syndrome.- Cotard's Syndrome.- De Clerambault's Syndrome.- References.- 8 Unusual Sexual Syndromes.- Necrophilia.- Vampirism.- Zoophilia.- Autoerotic Asphyxia.- Coprophilia and Related Paraphilias.- Incest.- Hypersexuality.- References.- 9 Koro (Shook Yang): A Culture-Bound Psychogenic Syndrome.- The 1967 Singapore Koro Epidemic.- Koro and Koro-like Cases in Westerners.- Psychodynamics, Diagnostics and Treatment of Koro.- References.- 10 Amok.- Clinical Description.- Review of Case Studies.- Theories.- Current Issues Concerning Amok.- References.- 11 Cargo Cult Syndromes.- Cargo Thinking.- The Literature.- Dreams and Hallucinations.- Cult Leaders and Their Followers.- Violence.- Conclusion.- References.- 12 Possession States and Exorcism.- Possession.- Discussion.- References.- 13 The So-called Hystero-Psychoses: Latah, Windigo, and Pibloktoq.- Windigo (Wihtigo, Whitico, Wihtiko).- Pibloktoq (Piblokto).- Latah.- Summary.- References.- 14 Psychological Disorders Among the Australian Aboriginals.- The Five-Year Epidemiologic Survey.- Unique Syndromes.- Paradoxical Omissions from the Neurotic Repertoire.- The Paradox Surrounding Personality Disorders.- Homosexuality Absent in Adults?.- The Low Incidence of Suicide: The High Incidence of Unconscious Self-Destruction.- Conclusion.- References.- 15 Atypical Cycloid Psychoses.- Overview.- Historical Perspectives.- Clinical Description.- Diagnostic Issues.- Theoretical Perspectives.- Treatment.- References.- 16 Unusual Presentations of Schizophrenia.- Atypical Schizophrenia.- Late Paraphrenia.- Periodic Catatonia.- Oneirophrenia.- Conclusions.- References.