Piblokto

Piblokto

Clinical Theory and Skills EMIs

View Chapter

Purchase Book

Published in Michael Reilly, Bangaru Raju, Extended Matching Items for the MRCPsych Part 1, 2018

Michael Reilly, Bangaru Raju

Amok.Bouffée délirante.Cathard.Dhat.Koro.Latah.Locura.Mal de ojo.Piblokto.Susto.Windigo.Zar.

MRCPsych Paper A1 Mock Examination 2: Answers

View Chapter

Purchase Book

Published in Melvyn WB Zhang, Cyrus SH Ho, Roger Ho, Ian H Treasaden, Basant K Puri, Get Through, 2016

Melvyn WB Zhang, Cyrus SH Ho, Roger CM Ho, Ian H Treasaden, Basant K Puri

Explanation: Pibloktoq is characterized by prodromal fatigue, depression or confusion followed by a ‘seizure’ including stripping off clothes, frenzied running, rolling in snow, glossolalia or echolalia, echopraxia, property destruction and coprophagia.

Did hypervitaminosis A have a role in Mawson’s ill-fated Antarctic exploration?

View Article

Journal Information

Published in Clinical Toxicology, 2022

B. Zane Horowitz

The Inuit affliction “pibloktoq” has been speculated to be due to hypervitaminosis A from consumption of polar bear liver [15,20]. Also called Arctic hysteria, “pibloktoq” has been described by Landy [20] as having four phases of the illness. The prodromal phase of hours or days is marked by irritability. This is followed by an excitement phase with a sudden occurrence with no warning characterized by shouting, throwing things, tearing off one’s clothing, running away, and exhibiting irrational behaviors which places the victim and his companions at risk for injury [20]. In the third phase a seizure occurs followed by coma which can last 12 h [20]. The last phase is recovery with amnesia of events, although recurrent bouts are possible, as is death [20]. Mertz’ delirium with sudden deterioration into a “fit” as described by Mawson seems to match this pattern described by the Inuit as “pibloktoq”.

Explore chapters and articles related to this topic

Clinical Theory and Skills EMIs

MRCPsych Paper A1 Mock Examination 2: Answers

Did hypervitaminosis A have a role in Mawson’s ill-fated Antarctic exploration?