Koro, is it a culture bound syndrome?

ABSTRACT

Koro syndrome has been recognized by many as culture bound [Yap, 1965; and Rin, 1965]. The syndrome has been described as early as 1834 by Pao, a Chinese author. More recently, many reports in the literature casted doubt about the geographical distribution of the syndrome and its culture bound nature. The author reviewed the literature and discuss the cases diagnosed in subjects of non-Chinese origin including a case who is pure Saudi citizen with no connections with Southeast Asia whatsoever. All cases described in the non-Chinese subjects shaved an incomplete picture of the syndrome, the one noticeable difference was the abscence of the fear of death which usually accompany the main presenting symptom of shrinking penis