Which culture-bound Latino syndrome features shaking, shouting, heat rising, and possible fainting after family stress and is known as?

• A. Ataque de nervios
• B. Acrophobia
• C. Arachnophobia
• D. Agoraphobia

Answer: (A)

Distress expressed through cultural norms can take specific forms in different groups. Ataque de nervios is a Latino cultural syndrome in which a person experiences a sudden, intense episode after family stress. It features shaking, shouting, a sensation of heat rising in the chest, and sometimes fainting or a seizure-like event. These episodes are typically triggered by conflicts or crises within the family and are understood within Latino communities as an emotionally charged event rather than a panic about a specific object or situation. This sets it apart from the other options, which are phobias or anxiety disorders not tied to cultural expressions of distress: fear of heights, fear of spiders, and fear of open spaces.