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'Hit by the wind' and temperature-shift panic among Vietnamese refugees
Devon Hinton1, Susan Hinton, Thang Pham
1Harvard University, USA. devon_hinton@hms.harvard.edu
Transcultural Psychiatry
|December 3, 2003
Summary
Vietnamese patients experiencing "hit by the wind" syndrome, a form of post-traumatic stress disorder, frequently suffer panic attacks. Common symptoms include chills and dizziness, with flashbacks also reported.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Cultural Psychiatry
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex mental health condition.
- Understanding culturally specific manifestations of trauma is crucial for effective treatment.
- The Vietnamese cultural context may offer unique insights into trauma responses.
Observation:
- This study surveyed 60 Vietnamese patients with current or past PTSD.
- The research phenomenologically characterized the syndrome of 'hit by the wind'.
- Patient conceptualizations and recent episodes of 'hit by the wind' were profiled.
Findings:
- 30% of patients experienced 'hit by the wind' episodes in the past month, all meeting panic attack criteria.
- Common panic symptoms included chills (100%) and dizziness (88%).
- Flashbacks were present in 28% of these episodes.
Implications:
- A model is proposed for how 'hit by the wind' generates panic.
- Potential Chinese origins of the disorder are discussed.
- Findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of PTSD in Vietnamese populations.