Monday, February 16, 2009
[Definition of Hikikomori]
As I wrote earlier, Hikikomori is, in a word, social withdrawal in youth. Please see the link below for details.
http://nhjournal37.blogspot.com/2009/02/hikikomori-social-withdrawal-in-japan.html
[Hikikomori and mental illnesses]
Hikikomori is a term that represents a condition. Not a clinical entity.
The concept and diagnosis of Hikikiomori remains controversial. In a narrow sense, people with mental illnesses are excluded from Hikikomori. In a broad sense, they are included.
Famous mental illnesses comorbid with Hikikomori are depression and schizophrenia.
According to a study, almost all Hikikomori people (78/97) who visited 5 Mental Health and Welfare Centers (a public institution for people with mental problems, including Hikikomori) were diagnosed with any mental disorders (anxiety disorders, development disorders, schizophrenia). Most of the other 19 Hikikomori people who didn't visited MHWC were also suspected to have any mental disorders(Kondo, Miyazawa, Sakai, Kiyota, Kitahata, Kuroda, Kurosawa, & Miyata, 2008).
[Population]
It is said that many young Japanese shut themselves in their homes.
Saito argued, based on his clinical experience, that there are over 1 million people who withdrawal from social interaction (Saito, 1998).
Kiyota and others argued, based on previous studies on Hikikomori, that about 1-3% people have the experience of Hikikomori (Kiyota, Usami, & Okuma, 2008).
Most surveys show that most Hikikomori people are male.
But few Hikikomori people are reported in other countries. So, it is commonly believed that Hikikomori is a unique Japanese phenomenon.
[Support organization]
Hikikomori is an object of mental health welfare policy. Mental Health and Welfare Centers, Public Health Centers, etc. are in charge of helping Hikikomori people and their parents.
Other than public institutions, there are many nonprofit organizations for Hikikomori people and their parents. Representative examples are the Hikikomori KHJ Parents Association and Sodateage Net.
[References]
Kiyota, K., Usami, M., & Okuma, H. (2008). Chiiki renkei system niyoru hikikomori shien to ekigakuteki kentou. Shisyunki no hikikomori wo motarasu seishinka shikkan no jittai haaku to seishinnigakuteki chiryou enjo system no kouchiku nikansuru kenkyu, 95-101.
Kondo, N., Miyazawa, H., Sakai, M., Kiyota, Y., Kitahata, Y., Kuroda, Y., Kurosawa, M., & Miyata, R. (2008). Shisyunki hikikomori niokeru seishinnigakuteki shougai no jittai haaku nikansuru kenkyu. Shisyunki no hikikomori wo motarasu seishinka shikkan no jittai haaku to seishinnigakuteki chiryou enjo system no kouchiku nikansuru kenkyu, 49-63.
Saito, T. (1998). Shakaiteki Hikikomori. Tokyo: PHP kenkyuujyo.
As I wrote earlier, Hikikomori is, in a word, social withdrawal in youth. Please see the link below for details.
http://nhjournal37.blogspot.com/2009/02/hikikomori-social-withdrawal-in-japan.html
[Hikikomori and mental illnesses]
Hikikomori is a term that represents a condition. Not a clinical entity.
The concept and diagnosis of Hikikiomori remains controversial. In a narrow sense, people with mental illnesses are excluded from Hikikomori. In a broad sense, they are included.
Famous mental illnesses comorbid with Hikikomori are depression and schizophrenia.
According to a study, almost all Hikikomori people (78/97) who visited 5 Mental Health and Welfare Centers (a public institution for people with mental problems, including Hikikomori) were diagnosed with any mental disorders (anxiety disorders, development disorders, schizophrenia). Most of the other 19 Hikikomori people who didn't visited MHWC were also suspected to have any mental disorders(Kondo, Miyazawa, Sakai, Kiyota, Kitahata, Kuroda, Kurosawa, & Miyata, 2008).
[Population]
It is said that many young Japanese shut themselves in their homes.
Saito argued, based on his clinical experience, that there are over 1 million people who withdrawal from social interaction (Saito, 1998).
Kiyota and others argued, based on previous studies on Hikikomori, that about 1-3% people have the experience of Hikikomori (Kiyota, Usami, & Okuma, 2008).
Most surveys show that most Hikikomori people are male.
But few Hikikomori people are reported in other countries. So, it is commonly believed that Hikikomori is a unique Japanese phenomenon.
[Support organization]
Hikikomori is an object of mental health welfare policy. Mental Health and Welfare Centers, Public Health Centers, etc. are in charge of helping Hikikomori people and their parents.
Other than public institutions, there are many nonprofit organizations for Hikikomori people and their parents. Representative examples are the Hikikomori KHJ Parents Association and Sodateage Net.
[References]
Kiyota, K., Usami, M., & Okuma, H. (2008). Chiiki renkei system niyoru hikikomori shien to ekigakuteki kentou. Shisyunki no hikikomori wo motarasu seishinka shikkan no jittai haaku to seishinnigakuteki chiryou enjo system no kouchiku nikansuru kenkyu, 95-101.
Kondo, N., Miyazawa, H., Sakai, M., Kiyota, Y., Kitahata, Y., Kuroda, Y., Kurosawa, M., & Miyata, R. (2008). Shisyunki hikikomori niokeru seishinnigakuteki shougai no jittai haaku nikansuru kenkyu. Shisyunki no hikikomori wo motarasu seishinka shikkan no jittai haaku to seishinnigakuteki chiryou enjo system no kouchiku nikansuru kenkyu, 49-63.
Saito, T. (1998). Shakaiteki Hikikomori. Tokyo: PHP kenkyuujyo.
