User:Sunflowerkarli/Running amok

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Amok syndrome is an aggressive dissociative behavioral pattern derived from Malaya and led to the English phrase, "running amok." The word derives from Southeast Asian Austronesian languages, traditionally meaning "an episode of sudden mass assault against people or objects, usually by a single individual, following a period of brooding, which has traditionally been regarded as occurring especially in Malaysian culture but is now increasingly viewed as psychopathological behavior". The syndrome of "Amok" is found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV TR) but it is important to make note that there is new information regarding the syndrome due to the DSM-V and the improvements or changes that have been made. The main change regarding the condition is that Amok syndrome is no longer considered a culture-bound syndrome in the DSM-V, the main reason being that the category of culture-bound syndrome has been removed.

Contemporary Psychiatric Syndrome

In 1849, Amok was officially classified as a psychiatric condition based on numerous reports and case studies that showed the majority of individuals who committed amok were, in some sense, mentally ill. "Running amok," is used to refer to the behavior of someone who, in the grip of strong emotion, obtains a weapon, which is usually a gun, and begins attacking people usually ending in the murdering of an innumerable amount of people. For about twenty years, this type of behavior has been described as a culture-bound syndrome. According to the DSM-V, the culture-bound syndrome category has been removed, meaning that this particular condition would no longer be categorized as such. Culture-bound syndromes are seen as those conditions that only occur in certain societies whereas standard psychiatric diagnoses are not seen that way regardless if there is some sort of cultural limitation.

Recent research has revealed that Amok syndrome is not culture-specific but a syndrome that could happen anywhere around the world because anyone could experience an episode of Amok. Throughout history, mass murders have occurred in the United States, such as the Columbine massacre and the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, bringing into question if Amok syndrome is based on mental illness or the simple act of committing mass murder. Amok syndrome, would in turn, be more prevalent in other societies and not only in Malay cultures. In fact, there are other societies like Polynesia, such as "cafard," and Puerto Rico, "mal de pelea," that have similar syndromes with different terms.

Amok Syndrome

The modern DSM-IV method of classification of mental disorders contains two official types of amok disorder; beramok and amok. Beramok is considered to be the more common of the two and is associated with the depression and sadness resulting from a loss and the subsequent brooding process. Loss includes, but is not limited to, the death of a spouse or loved one, divorce, loss of a job, money, power, etc. Beramok is associated with mental issues of severe depression or other mood disorders. Amok, the rarer form, is believed to stem from rage, insult, or a vendetta against a person, society, or object for a wide variety of reasons. Amok has been more closely associated with psychosis, personality disorders, bipolar disorder, and delusions.

Based on research, there is no evidence that there are two official types of amok disorder and there was no information found on "beramok," meaning that this information could be misleading. It is also important to note that the DSM-V has made improvements to the manual, specifically to culture-bound related syndromes and that this information could no longer be applicable.