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Shin-Byung
Shin-byung is a culture-bound syndrome defined by the DSM as "a Korean folk label for a syndrome in which initial phases are characterized by anxiety and somatic complaints (general weakness, dizziness, fear, anorexia, insomnia, gastrointestinal problems), with subsequent dissociation and possession by ancestral spirits." Shin-byung has also been referred to as a Shinbeyeong, the self-loss or spirit sickness.

Symptoms
The physical complaints related to Shin-byung are gastrointestinal difficulties, loss of appetite, inability to sleep, dizziness, anxiety, and weakness. This is typically followed by a dissociative, "trance-like" state during which time the afflicted person is believed to be possessed by a spirit.

The effects of this syndrome have been said to last anywhere from the average eight to thirty years. Symptoms can be divided into three phases: The first phase is that in which all physical symptoms begin to appear and is when medical help is usually sought. In the second phase, the individual may experience disassociative behaviors, dreams, or hallucinations. The final phase is believed to be possession by the shin.

Cultural Information
Shin-byung is very prevalent among women of Korean origin and is traditionally believed the be the fault of a shin, or ancestral spirit. Psychological illness is viewed as being a side-effect of an illness that is organic in nature. As a result, individuals attempt to solve their problems through the utilization of self-discipline rather than seeking professional assistance in most cases.

In the past, shamanism, or the possession of an individual by a spirit, was seen as something to avoid because shaman are viewed as deviating from the norms of society. As a result, the family of an individual afflicted would be blamed because people believed that it was a result of a consistent state of stress within the family.

Religious Context
The followers of the religious faith of Muism consider Shinbeyeong to be a religious phenomenon; they believe that it allows man to become one with God, which is what causes the changes in the individual's cognition. This belief is said to have prevailed since prehistoric times, dating back to approximately 40,000 B.C.E.

Treatment
There is only one cure for Shin-byung. Called the naerim-gut, it is a ritual that initiates the individual into shamanism. Many academically inclined individuals consider Shinbeyeong to be more medicinal than religious, believing that the spirits can be manipulated to achieve human goals.