[The anti-koro effect of a tricyclic antidepressant]

The authors are reporting a case of koro syndrome which was associated with major depression. Koro syndrome is a rare disease which manifests itself with a severe anxiety associated with the fear of having the penis shrinking and disappearing in the abdomen. The case reported was treated with trimipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, at a dose of 150 mg/day associated with bromazepam, a benzodiazepine. In addition, the patient received psychotherapy, which allowed him to deal with the situation and to eliminate guilt feelings. It is hypothesized that the tricyclic antidepressant, by treating the depression, had a curative effect on the koro syndrome.