The author reports three cases of Hwa-Byung, a Korean folk illness
ordinarily understood by patients and families to be a physical affliction
despite the fact that its manifestations include both physiological and
psychological symptoms. In addition, the patient often recognizes
interpersonal conflicts and anger as precipitating factors. In the three
cases reported, the patients also identified an epigastric mass that was
not present on physical examination. Symptoms were accompanied by a fear of
impending death that was not easily dispelled by medical reassurance. The
author discusses the role of depression in the symptom formation of
Hwa-Byung as well as the treatment implications.
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