Jiko-Shisen-Kyofu (Fear of One's Own Glance), but not Taijin-Kyofusho (Fear of Interpersonal Relations), is an East Asian Culture-Related Specific Syndrome

Abstract

Objective: According to the DSM-IV-TR, the concept of taijin-kyofusho (fear of interpersonal relations) is both unique to East Asia and a culture-bound syndrome. In the indigenous diagnostic classification system in Japan, taijin-kyofusho consists of four subtypes, i.e. sekimen-kyofu (phobia of blushing), shubo-kyofu (phobia of a deformed face/body), jiko-shu-kyofu (phobia of one's own foul body odour), and jiko-shisen-kyofu (phobia of one's own glance). Each subtype except for phobia of one's own glance can be adequately assigned to a respective existing category in the DSM-IV-TR. The aim of the study was to introduce clinical features of phobia of one's own glance to western psychiatrists. Methods: Description of a series of cases with jiko-shisen-kyofu (phobia of one's own glance). Results: All of our cases shared the unique feature that they suffered from the preoccupation that their own glance was offensive to others, and as a result were socially withdrawn themselves. Conclusions: To our best knowledge, no cases with a clear picture of phobia of one's own glance have been reported in the West to date. The controversial issue of the classification of phobia of one's own glance as an east Asian culture-related specific syndrome was addressed.