Culture-bound syndromes: hwa-byung: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Culture-bound syndromes: hwa-byung

Sample item

A middle-aged Korean woman describes a sensation of a mass in the epigastrium, heat rising, palpitations and insomnia after years of suppressing anger at her husband. This is called

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Hwa-byung

Hwa-byung, or anger syndrome, is a Korean culture-bound syndrome attributed to suppressed anger, with epigastric mass sensation, heat, palpitations and insomnia. Shenkui is a Chinese syndrome of anxiety about semen loss, comparable to Dhat syndrome. Koro is fear of genital retraction.

Option by option

  • A. Shenkui

    Shenkui concerns semen loss anxiety in China.

  • B. Latah

    Latah is exaggerated startle with echo phenomena.

  • C. Koro

    Koro is fear of genital retraction.

  • D. Hwa-byung (correct)

    Correct. Suppressed anger with epigastric mass sensation is hwa-byung.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is D, Hwa-byung. Hwa-byung, or anger syndrome, is a Korean culture-bound syndrome attributed to suppressed anger, with epigastric mass sensation, heat, palpitations and insomnia.

Why is "Shenkui" not the answer?

Shenkui concerns semen loss anxiety in China.

Why is "Latah" not the answer?

Latah is exaggerated startle with echo phenomena.

Why is "Koro" not the answer?

Koro is fear of genital retraction.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Culture-bound syndromes: hwa-byung in Psychiatry. Shenkui is a Chinese syndrome of anxiety about semen loss, comparable to Dhat syndrome. Koro is fear of genital retraction.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Culture-bound syndromes: hwa-byung?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.