Koro is characterised as a perception that one's genital organs are shrinking and will eventually recede into the abdomen. It was initially described in South East Asia as a culture bound syndrome but this syndrome has recently been recognised in a non-culture bound context. A case is described of a depressed Eastern European asylum seeker with koro like symptoms. All symptoms resolved completely with fluoxetine treatment. The relevant literature to the case is reviewed, in relation to onset, symptoms and treatment of this rare syndrome. In addition comparison is made with previous reports of the non-culture bound variant.

Koro Depression Non culture bound koro Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor Asylum seeker Treatment Penile shrinkage Culture bound koro Refugee

male case report Southeast Asia symptomatology immigrant Koro genital system Penis cultural factor Europe tricyclic antidepressant agent Article fluoxetine concentration response human Ireland