Does anyone know the term?

Years ago I read an article that gave a term for the psychiatric phenomenon where, when a previously rare psychiatric condition receives a lot of media attention, suddenly people begin developing that condition in large numbers. (This was an article in reference to the fugue state, but also referenced multiple personality disorders.) Anyone know what that term is?

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nonsensiclesnail · F

According to chat Gpt
“
The phenomenon you're referring to is called "mass psychogenic illness" or "mass hysteria." It's when a group of people start experiencing similar physical symptoms with no discernible cause, often triggered by psychological factors like stress or fear, and can indeed be influenced by media coverage or social contagion”

ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

@nonsensiclesnail That sounds a bit more widespread than what I was thinking of. It wasn't a case of mass hysteria, but a sudden upswing in occurrences -- perhaps only a few dozen above what had gone before-- across the whole society.

NativePortlander1970 ·

Ever notice how autism went up from 1 in 100,000 in the 70's, 80's, and most of the 90's, to 1 in 100 in the late 90's when that quack, Andrew Wakefield, claimed the mmr vaccines caused it? Now it's everywhere self diagnosed 🙄

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ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

@NativePortlander1970 There also the whole "Autism Spectrum" concept, which some people claim means EVERYONE is on the spectrum somewhere.

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Philth · 46-50, M

@NativePortlander1970 ever notice how we're still discovering planets.... Pretty sure they were there all the time, just not identified.

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