Hikikomori, is it culture-reactive or culture-bound temperament? : Nidotherapy and clinical vignette from Oman

Noriyuki Sakamoto, Rodger Martin, Hiroaki Kumano, Tomifusa Kuboki, Samir al-Adawi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Hikikomori, a form of acute social withdrawal, is becoming a silent epidemic in Japan. As it has not been reported from other parts of the world, hikikomori fulfills the criteria for "a culture-bound syndrome." We report a case from Oman, in the southern part of Arabia, with all the essential features of hikikomori. We speculate that the social environment of Japanese and Omani society could reinforce behavior akin to hikikomori although this condition may also transcend geography and ethnicity.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)191-198
JournalInternational Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine
Volume35
Publication statusPublished - 2005

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