Paris syndrome

Tourists visit Paris in a bus.

Paris syndrome (French: Syndrome de Paris) is a transient psychological disorder encountered by some people visiting or vacationing in Paris, France. It is similar in nature to Jerusalem syndrome and Stendhal syndrome, which are all classified as a form of Voyager syndrome ([Syndrome du voyageur] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)).

Japanese visitors are observed to be especially susceptible. It was first noted in Nervure, the French journal of psychiatry, by A. Viala, et al. in 2004. From the estimated six million yearly visitors the number of reported cases is significant.

General characteristics

It is characterized by a number of psychiatric symptoms as acute delusional states, hallucinations, feelings of persecution (delusional belief of being a victim of prejudice, aggression, hostility to others), a derealization, a depersonalization, anxiety, and also psychosomatic manifestations such as dizziness, tachycardia, sweating, etc..

In fact, the observed clinical picture is quite variable, but it has the characteristic to occur during a trip that confronts the traveler to things unknown to them, that they did not anticipate. The symptoms did not exist before the trip and they disappear with a return to the familiar surroundings. This distinguishes Pathological Voyage, in which psychiatric disorders are pre-existing.

Triggers

The authors of the journal cite the following matters as factors that combine to induce the phenomenon:

1. Language barrier - few Japanese speak French and vice versa. This is believed to be the principal difficulty and is thought to engender the remainder. Apart from the obvious differences between French and Japanese many everyday phrases and idioms are shorn of meaning and substance when translated adding to the confusion of some who haven't previously encountered such.
2. Cultural difference - the authors state that the large difference between not only the languages but the manner in which Latin populations communicate on an interpersonal level in comparison to the rigidly formal Japanese culture proves too great a difficulty for some Japanese visitors. It is thought that it is the rapid and frequent fluctuations in mood, tense and attitude especially in the delivery of humour that cause the most difficulty.
3. Idealized image of Paris - it is also speculated as manifesting from an individual's inability to reconcile a disparity between the Japanese popular image and the reality of Paris.
4. Exhaustion - finally, it is thought that the over-booking of one's time and energy, whether on a business trip or on holiday, in attempting to cram too much into every moment of a stay in Paris along with the effects of jet lag all contribute to the psychological destabilisation of some.

However, Youcef Mahmoudia, physician with the Hôtel-Dieu de Paris, indicates that Paris Syndrome is "a manifestation of psychopathology related to the voyage, rather than a syndrome of the traveller". He theorized that the excitement resulting from visiting Paris causes the heart to accelerate, causing giddiness and shortness of breath, which results in hallucinations in the manner similar to the Stendhal syndrome described by Italian psychologist Graziella Magherini in her 1989 book La sindrome di Stendhal.

See also

• Culture shock
• Delusion
• Psychosis
• Jerusalem syndrome
• Mean World Syndrome

External links

• "Voyage pathologique" from Actualité Le magazine - French language publication
• "VOYAGE PATHOLOGIQUE : HISTORIQUE ET DIAGNOSTIQUES DIFFERENTIELS 2005 Report from Marmottan Hospital, Paris
• 'Paris Syndrome' strikes Japanese: BBC News Article
• Paris syndrome - How the romantic city is driving some Japanese mad... literally: Market research article from Japan Market Intelligence
• Wyatt, Caroline. "Mastering French manners, the hard way" BBC News website.