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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

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01.07.2012 | Original Paper

Does the ‘hikikomori’ syndrome of social withdrawal exist outside Japan? A preliminary international investigation

verfasst von: Takahiro A. Kato, Masaru Tateno, Naotaka Shinfuku, Daisuke Fujisawa, Alan R. Teo, Norman Sartorius, Tsuyoshi Akiyama, Tetsuya Ishida, Tae Young Choi, Yatan Pal Singh Balhara, Ryohei Matsumoto, Wakako Umene-Nakano, Yota Fujimura, Anne Wand, Jane Pei-Chen Chang, Rita Yuan-Feng Chang, Behrang Shadloo, Helal Uddin Ahmed, Tiraya Lerthattasilp, Shigenobu Kanba

Erschienen in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Ausgabe 7/2012

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Abstract

Purpose

To explore whether the ‘hikikomori’ syndrome (social withdrawal) described in Japan exists in other countries, and if so, how patients with the syndrome are diagnosed and treated.

Methods

Two hikikomori case vignettes were sent to psychiatrists in Australia, Bangladesh, India, Iran, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the USA. Participants rated the syndrome’s prevalence in their country, etiology, diagnosis, suicide risk, and treatment.

Results

Out of 247 responses to the questionnaire (123 from Japan and 124 from other countries), 239 were enrolled in the analysis. Respondents’ felt the hikikomori syndrome is seen in all countries examined and especially in urban areas. Biopsychosocial, cultural, and environmental factors were all listed as probable causes of hikikomori, and differences among countries were not significant. Japanese psychiatrists suggested treatment in outpatient wards and some did not think that psychiatric treatment is necessary. Psychiatrists in other countries opted for more active treatment such as hospitalization.

Conclusions

Patients with the hikikomori syndrome are perceived as occurring across a variety of cultures by psychiatrists in multiple countries. Our results provide a rational basis for study of the existence and epidemiology of hikikomori in clinical or community populations in international settings.

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Titel: Does the ‘hikikomori’ syndrome of social withdrawal exist outside Japan? A preliminary international investigation
verfasst von: Takahiro A. Kato
Masaru Tateno
Naotaka Shinfuku
Daisuke Fujisawa
Alan R. Teo
Norman Sartorius
Tsuyoshi Akiyama
Tetsuya Ishida
Tae Young Choi
Yatan Pal Singh Balhara
Ryohei Matsumoto
Wakako Umene-Nakano
Yota Fujimura
Anne Wand
Jane Pei-Chen Chang
Rita Yuan-Feng Chang
Behrang Shadloo
Helal Uddin Ahmed
Tiraya Lerthattasilp
Shigenobu Kanba
Publikationsdatum: 01.07.2012
Verlag: Springer-Verlag
Erschienen in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Ausgabe 7/2012
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Elektronische ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-011-0411-7

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Does the ‘hikikomori’ syndrome of social withdrawal exist outside Japan? A preliminary international investigation