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Definition

As described in the DSM IV Latah is a hypersensitivity to sudden fright often with echopraxia,echolalia, command, obedience, and dissociative or translike behavior.  Primarily seen in Malaysia and Indonesia, primarily seen in middle aged women.
   

Oter regions Siberia = amurakh,irkunii, Thailand=bah-tschi, hah-tsi, baah-ji,Japan=ainu, sakhalin, Phillipines=mali-mali,sikok

. Latah, described from Malaysia and Indonesia, is a good example(Simons 1996, 1983). Although everyone can be startled , in all populations some people startle more readily and strongly than others. In Malaysia and Indonesia these people are repet ==idely =ely startled by others until they become extremely flustered whenever they are startled. In the highly flustered state that follows being startled, these people may say things that are normally considered obscene or irreverent , imitate the actions of others

around them, and obey commands that are forcefully directed at them.  These hyperstartling people are called latahs and this condition of being latah is a well-defined role in Malay and Indonesian society with its own set of rules and understandings.

Taken from: Introduction to Culture Bound Syndromes Pschiatric Times Online By Ronald C. Simons, M.D.,M.A./November 1,2001 The article contains valid points of comparing what is considered folklore in some cultures to actual syndromes,how some are truly recognized as such in most cultures but treated as a passing phenom in others

Bold text' origins and controvsersy' Anthropologist adn psychologist disagree as to origin and cause of latah. Lawerence Osborne who wrote,American Normal compares latah to aspergers disease, a more social component than a psychological one. Ronald C. Simons , author of Boo! Culture, Experience and the Startle Reflex, takes a neurophysical and social view. Simons and many others believe there are social, cultural and behavioral components involved. In Malaysia, hyperstartling is common among middle aged women who have experienced trauma or tragedy. Many other cultures of varying ages and gender have similiar cases of hyperstartling. The Malayo and Indonessian culture see and treat latah as a defined role in their culture and have a whole different set of rules and understanding of the condition. One common factor in all views is culture. The way a culture percieves the syndrome and the stigma attached.

Treatment There is no notable cure or treatment for latah

References=

2. Pub Med (1980 April). "The Resolution of the Latah Paradox". Accessed March 8,2011 from U.S. National Library of Medicine National Instiutes of Health Pub Med: [1]
According to this article Latah is a cultural specific syndrome where a individual is startled easily and often time provoked by onlookers and individuals may mimic actions of others. The article also suggests how the syndrome may be cultural, neurophysical and exponetial . Culture plays a large role but varying cultures are also suggested to be a genetic link as well. 3. Psychiatric Times( November 1, 2011Vol 18 NO 11 )."Introduction to Culture-Bound Syndromes". Accessed March 8,2011. Psychiatric Times online: [2]
4. PsyDir ( no date). " Latah and the rules of rule breaking". Accessed March17,2011 from PsyDir online:[3]
5. "Culture-Bound Syndrome". Accessed March 17,2011 from Learn Max online.:[4]
Article suggests that Latah may be a attention seeking method instead of a actual syndrome. It is seen primarily in Malay-Indonesia cultures. Many that suffer from this syndrome exhibit inappropriate behavior in which they mimic others and have no recall of episode. 6. Iblio (no date). " Curious Mental Illnesses Around the Worldd" . Accessed on march 17,2011 from Iblio.org:[http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/ electronic-publications/stay-free/archives/21/mental_illness.html]
7. Robert L. Winzeler.Latah in South-East Asia: The History and Ethnography of a Culture-bound Syndrome (Publications of the Society for Psychological Anthropology). Cambridge University Press (September 15, 2008). ISBN-10: 0521031370.[5]