A syndrome of depression and mutism in the Oglala Lakota Sioux.

The wacinko syndrome in the Oglala Sioux varies from a nonclinical reaction to pathological degrees of anger, pouting, withdrawal, depression, psychomotor retardation, mutism, immobility, and even to suicide. Although indigenous practitioners recognize the syndrome as a distinctive disorder, it has not been described by non-Indian practitioners. The author presents a case report and suggests that most cases are diagnosable as reactive depressive illness.