Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Piblokto
Introduction
Piblokto, Pibloktoq or arctic hysteria is a condition exclusively appearing in Inuit societies living within the arctic circle. Appearing most prevalently in winter, it is considered to be a form of a culture-specific disorder.
Symptoms can include intense “hysteria” (screaming, uncontrolled wild behavior), depression, coprophagia, insensitivity to extreme cold and more. This condition is most often seen in dogs and Eskimo women.