A review of 'The Arctic Hysterias' by Edward Foulks, exploring culture-bound mental disorders among Eskimos and their decline with westernization. Longer summary

This book review examines 'The Arctic Hysterias' by Edward Foulks, which explores culture-bound mental disorders among Eskimos, particularly focusing on 'piblokto' or Arctic hysteria. The review discusses various Eskimo mental conditions, Foulks' investigations into their causes, and the decline of these disorders as Eskimo society westernizes. It also considers the cultural context, the impact of colonialism, and potential explanations for these phenomena, including comparisons to panic disorders and the effects of societal changes on mental health. Shorter summary

Scott presents a case of postpartum panic attacks, explains the theory of panic as a false suffocation alarm, and discusses how understanding this mechanism can help treat the condition. Longer summary

The post discusses a case of a woman experiencing panic attacks and feelings of suffocation after childbirth. Scott explores Donald Klein's theory of panic disorder as a false suffocation alarm, explaining how the brain monitors CO2 levels and other factors to determine if suffocation is occurring. The theory is linked to postpartum panic attacks due to hormonal changes affecting breathing patterns. Scott explains this to the patient, which helps calm her down. The post concludes by discussing how understanding the mechanism behind panic attacks can be therapeutic, drawing parallels with other psychological experiments. Shorter summary