A Systematic Review of Research Developments in Mass Psychogenic Illness

Abstract

This study explores the development of research on mass psychogenic illness (MPI) over recent decades. The literature review was used as the research methodology for this study, and dozens of published case reports and studies are reviewed in this paper. First, the paper reviews past researchers' general recognition of mass psychogenic illness. The paper includes the two subtypes of mass psychogenic disorders, 'mass anxiety hysteria' and 'mass motor hysteria', as well as the characteristics and common symptoms of the outbreak of mass psychogenic illness and the suspicion of the existence of mass psychogenic illness by some scholars. Secondly, historical cases of mass psychogenic illness outbreaks are reviewed in chronological order, from the Middle Ages through to the 21st century. Thirdly, new trends in the development of mass psychogenic illness and a new type of mass psychogenic illness, MSMI, proposed by researchers are reviewed. Finally, two important studies from the past decade are reviewed. The findings of two studies, the inducibility of mass psychogenic illness and hypnotizability, an important predictor to the emergence of cases of mass psychogenic illness, are also presented. Besides, some implications for future research into mass psychogenic illness are given through the review.