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Matiruku, a Fijian Madness: An Initial Assessment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

John Price  and
Isaac Karim
John Price
Affiliation:
University of Queensland, Clinical Sciences Building, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Q4029, Australia
Isaac Karim*
Affiliation:
St Giles' Hospital, P.O. Box 105, Fiji
*
Reprint requests to I. Karim
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Summary

In Fijian, matiruku means literally ‘low tide in the morning’ and figuratively somebody periodically insane. In this study, the conceptual basis of matiruku was examined by means of a questionnaire completed by 24 Fijians which explored its occurrence, aetiology and precipitation, phenomenology, management and prognosis. It was concluded that matiruku corresponds to hypomania, which may have special features in Fiji: short duration, frequent recurrence and an intensification of symptoms in the morning.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 133 , Issue 3 , September 1978 , pp. 228 - 230
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1978 

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References

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