The Roko Syndrome: A Mirror of Koro Syndrome
It is well established that 1 in 50 individuals receives a diagnosis of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Within body image disorders, there is genital retraction syndrome also known as Koro. A unique syndrome in which there is a heightened belief that one’s genitals will diminish in size, retract int...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Psychosexual Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2631831821991799 |
| _version_ | 1818652583399522304 |
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| author | Emmanuel Stip Julian Nguyen Bastian Bertulies-Esposito Marie-Joelle Bedard Andreanne Paradis Adrien Tempier |
| author_facet | Emmanuel Stip Julian Nguyen Bastian Bertulies-Esposito Marie-Joelle Bedard Andreanne Paradis Adrien Tempier |
| author_sort | Emmanuel Stip |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | It is well established that 1 in 50 individuals receives a diagnosis of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Within body image disorders, there is genital retraction syndrome also known as Koro. A unique syndrome in which there is a heightened belief that one’s genitals will diminish in size, retract into the abdomen and ultimately lead to death. However, we have recently discovered a separate form of BDD that is directly opposite of Koro, in which the patient presents a strong belief that his penis will enlarge and extend out of their body. We present a unique case report of a counter-Koro syndrome. This syndrome is characterized by the delusion that one’s penis is growing larger and that it will result in its extreme protrusion from the abdomen and a consequent fear of recurring and visible erections. Given its mirror-like presentation and uniqueness to occurring only in males, we refer to it as Roko Syndrome. To our knowledge, this syndrome has not yet been reported in the literature and requires further study to understand whether it fits as a separate syndrome or falls along the spectrum of body dysmorphia. Thus, assessments used to identify body image disorders can be broadened to include items representing the behavior and presentation of Roko that we delineate in comparison of Koro. The new syndrome is also easily distinguishable from a priapism which is a urological emergency. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T02:24:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9aefafc5f4534cfb80377b7e25508230 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2631-8318 2631-8326 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T02:24:19Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Psychosexual Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-9aefafc5f4534cfb80377b7e255082302022-12-21T22:07:10ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Psychosexual Health2631-83182631-83262021-01-01310.1177/2631831821991799The Roko Syndrome: A Mirror of Koro SyndromeEmmanuel Stip0Julian Nguyen1Bastian Bertulies-Esposito2Marie-Joelle Bedard3Andreanne Paradis4Adrien Tempier5 University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de l’université de Montreal (CHUM), Canada Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de l’université de Montreal (CHUM), CanadaIt is well established that 1 in 50 individuals receives a diagnosis of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Within body image disorders, there is genital retraction syndrome also known as Koro. A unique syndrome in which there is a heightened belief that one’s genitals will diminish in size, retract into the abdomen and ultimately lead to death. However, we have recently discovered a separate form of BDD that is directly opposite of Koro, in which the patient presents a strong belief that his penis will enlarge and extend out of their body. We present a unique case report of a counter-Koro syndrome. This syndrome is characterized by the delusion that one’s penis is growing larger and that it will result in its extreme protrusion from the abdomen and a consequent fear of recurring and visible erections. Given its mirror-like presentation and uniqueness to occurring only in males, we refer to it as Roko Syndrome. To our knowledge, this syndrome has not yet been reported in the literature and requires further study to understand whether it fits as a separate syndrome or falls along the spectrum of body dysmorphia. Thus, assessments used to identify body image disorders can be broadened to include items representing the behavior and presentation of Roko that we delineate in comparison of Koro. The new syndrome is also easily distinguishable from a priapism which is a urological emergency.https://doi.org/10.1177/2631831821991799 |
| spellingShingle | Emmanuel Stip Julian Nguyen Bastian Bertulies-Esposito Marie-Joelle Bedard Andreanne Paradis Adrien Tempier The Roko Syndrome: A Mirror of Koro Syndrome Journal of Psychosexual Health |
| title | The Roko Syndrome: A Mirror of Koro Syndrome |
| title_full | The Roko Syndrome: A Mirror of Koro Syndrome |
| title_fullStr | The Roko Syndrome: A Mirror of Koro Syndrome |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Roko Syndrome: A Mirror of Koro Syndrome |
| title_short | The Roko Syndrome: A Mirror of Koro Syndrome |
| title_sort | roko syndrome a mirror of koro syndrome |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2631831821991799 |
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