Hysteria, a medical term unfamiliar to most, has resurfaced in the spotlight following the recent diagnosis of "mass hysteria" by health authorities after 68 students in Gansu exhibited collective poisoning symptoms.
What exactly is hysteria? Why does it manifest collectively in groups? Are there effective preventive measures? Experts explain that hysteria is not an unfamiliar condition—it has even occurred at a university in Qingdao. With timely psychological counseling, patients can recover without medication or injections.During interviews, local psychological experts advised that mass hysteria should be rigorously diagnosed, particularly during public health emergencies. Once confirmed as "mass hysteria," relevant authorities should promptly disclose diagnostic rationale and triggering factors to prevent public skepticism.
Case Study: Mass Hysteria Occurred in Qingdao Before "Qingdao has also experienced mass hysteria before," recalled Wang Guanjun, Deputy Director of the Qingdao Mental Health Center. He remembered an incident in the fall of 2003 at a university in Qingdao where several students experienced diarrhea after dining in the cafeteria that evening.Recalling the incident, Wang Guanjun, Deputy Director of Qingdao Mental Health Center, mentioned that in the fall of 2003, several students at a local university experienced diarrhea and vomiting after dining in the cafeteria. They were hospitalized the next day, initially diagnosed with food poisoning.But after these students were admitted, more students gradually arrived at the hospital. Strangely, these students showed no signs of illness, yet they felt unwell.
Wang Guanjun said that eventually nearly 300 students came, all claiming they had eaten something bad and were experiencing severe stomach pain. Although doctors assured them they were fine, they refused to leave, insisting on staying for observation and claiming they were in the incubation period.However, after detailed consultations, it emerged that many of these students had not eaten at the same cafeteria as those initially diagnosed with food poisoning.
Doctors then considered the possibility of mass hysteria.Upon realizing this, officials from the Municipal Health Bureau promptly dispatched several experts from the Mental Health Center. Through communication and interaction with the patients, the psychologists identified the root cause of the condition and conducted individual examinations of the symptomatic students. As expected, the experts ultimately confirmed this was a case of mass hysteria. Except for the few students diagnosed with food poisoning, the others were essentially "scaring themselves sick."
Following timely psychological intervention by the specialists, all students affected by the hysteria recovered without lasting harm.
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"Tense Atmospheres Are Most Dangerous When Hysteria Strikes"
"Group hysteria among college students is extremely rare. In my 20-plus years of practice, this is my first encounter,"" said Jiang Guilan, Director of the Psychology Department at Qingdao Mental Health Center. However, she has encountered more individual cases of hysteria in her outpatient practice.
Jiang explained that hysteria is categorized into individual and collective forms. Collective hysteria involves multiple individuals developing symptoms simultaneously within a short period, primarily influenced by their surroundings. Symptoms predominantly occur in adolescents and manifest identically across patients;Individual hysteria involves solitary episodes, often triggered by self-suggestion or external suggestion, and is more common among women, largely due to their generally more sensitive personality traits.
Jiang recalled a patient who left a deep impression on her: a middle-aged rural woman whose son wanted to buy a motorcycle. However, she had heard about numerous motorcycle accidents and felt it was unsafe, firmly refusing to let her son purchase one.The woman herself was extremely timid, yet her son defied her and bought the motorcycle anyway. After her son pushed the motorcycle home, the woman's mental state deteriorated. She spent her days shouting, "I don't know, I don't know..."
"Hysteria manifests in two forms: dissociative symptoms and conversion symptoms. The woman's case exemplified dissociative symptoms, primarily characterized by loss of self-awareness and mental disorder," Jiang Guilan further explained. The other form, conversion symptoms, presents as physical discomfort—commonly including dizziness, nausea, abdominal pain, or even aphasia.
"The worst thing for someone with hysteria is excessive anxiety from those around them," Jiang Guilan emphasized. Patients need emotional relaxation most of all. Those nearby should avoid dramatizing the situation or heightening tension. Instead, they should stabilize the patient's emotions and seek medical attention promptly.
Survey: Hysteria Prone to "Group Outbreaks" Around Age 15
Group hysteria remains mysterious to most people. Simply put, it occurs when individuals witness someone experiencing symptoms, and due to unfamiliarity with the condition, they develop fear and anxiety, believing they too are exhibiting the same symptoms."Hysteria is indeed quite mysterious. I used to think only illnesses like the flu were contagious. I never imagined that seeing someone else get sick could cause me to develop the same symptoms due to psychological factors—it's like a mental demon," said Zhang Guomin, a citizen interviewed by reporters.
Adolescents Most Prone to "Mass Outbreaks"
"Mass hysteria typically begins with one person exhibiting symptoms, followed by widespread contagion," explained Wang Guanjun, Deputy Director of Qingdao Mental Health Center." explained Wang Guanjun, Deputy Director of Qingdao Mental Health Center. In other words, after sudden events like food poisoning or strange odors, when one person exhibits certain adverse symptoms, it can cause panic among others nearby. Some individuals, under this psychological suggestion, unconsciously mimic the behavior, manifesting the same discomfort symptoms and ultimately creating an "epidemic."
It is reported that due to adolescents' psychological immaturity, susceptibility to suggestion, and lack of independent judgment, mass hysteria most commonly occurs among teenagers around 15 years old, typically in primary and secondary schools or kindergartens.
"It's especially prevalent in remote, relatively underdeveloped mountain villages," noted Wang Guanjun. This correlation stems from the relative isolation of information in these areas. Older individuals or those in regions with advanced education and knowledge possess stronger critical thinking skills and thus rarely exhibit such phenomena.
Timely intervention is crucial
During the interview, Wang Guanjun also stressed the need for vigilance against mass hysteria during public health emergencies. Whenever possible, mental health professionals should engage patients in detailed discussions to analyze the onset of symptoms and help them recognize that their condition stems from psychological factors rather than physical illness.Simultaneously, patients should be informed of the factual circumstances to alleviate panic and foster trust in scientific explanations.
Reporters also learned that during a 2008 fire in Chengyang, psychological experts promptly provided on-site counseling, preventing mass hysteria from occurring.Jiang Guilan, Director of the Psychology Department at the Municipal Mental Health Center who participated in the intervention, explained that the fire originated from an electrical fault at a food factory. The intense flames inevitably caused psychological panic among nearby residents. Compounded by smoke inhalation, some residents experienced persistent shortness of breath and reported smelling rubber even at a distance—a classic symptom of hysteria.
Revealing the Truth: The Best Psychological Remedy "Psychological ailments require psychological remedies. Mass hysteria isn't inherently terrifying; the most effective treatment is promptly informing patients of the truth." According to Wang Guanjun, Deputy Director of Qingdao Mental Health Center, the key to psychological intervention for mass hysteria lies in revealing the facts to affected individuals, thereby dispelling irrational imaginings and self-suggestion.
Avoid Rushing to Medication
For mass hysteria patients, failing to learn the truth promptly can lead to exaggerated imaginings that often prove more terrifying than reality itself. Secondly, prioritize psychological treatment for those exhibiting symptoms earliest, as they typically serve as the source of contagion.Simultaneously, for minors—the most susceptible group—individualized treatment is necessary. It is best to avoid housing young patients together in the same hospital, and to separate healthy children from symptomatic ones to prevent mutual psychological suggestion.
Wang Guanjun further emphasized that without concrete evidence of physical illness, medication should not be administered to patients with hysteria. "Once medication is introduced, they will assume something is definitely wrong—why else would they need IV drips?" At this stage, parents and teachers should focus on calming the child's emotions and redirecting their attention.
Diagnosing Hysteria Requires Caution