Summary
Researchers have developed the Hikikomori Diagnostic Evaluation (HiDE), a new method for identifying pathological social withdrawal, a condition known as hikikomori. Initially identified in Japan, hikikomori is characterized by extended physical isolation lasting more than six months and has been seen increasingly around the world, a trend that has been aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The HiDE provides a practical, structured method for clinicians to assess individuals presenting hikikomori symptoms, encompassing a comprehensive questionnaire, and a screening form to improve early detection and understanding of this growing pathology worldwide.
Key Facts
- Hikikomori, a state of drawn-out social withdrawal, is becoming a worldwide concern heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The HiDE tool, created at Kyushu University, helps clinicians effectively assess individuals presenting signs of hikikomori. The tool takes about 5 to 20 minutes to complete.
- The evaluation consists of a detailed questionnaire and a screening form geared toward identifying and understanding the level of a patient’s social withdrawal.
Development of HiDE
Scientists at Kyushu University have created a new tool, the HiDE, to aid clinicians and researchers in assessing individuals for pathological social withdrawal or hikikomori. Hikikomori is defined as sustained physical isolation for a period exceeding six months. Initially defined in Japan in 1998, the condition is now evident globally. There is concern that the recent COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the increase of hikikomori cases worldwide.
The HiDE tool fills a previous void of a standardized tool to identify the hikikomori pathology and was designed by Associate Professor Takahiro A. Kato of the Graduate School of Medical Sciences published in World Psychiatry.
The HiDE tool takes approximately 5 to 20 minutes to complete and is split into two primary sections. The first part reviews patients’ behavior to check for hikikomori symptoms while the second part aids clinicians in understanding the patient’s extent of social isolation.
A feedback form has also been added to assist clinicians who lack the time to use the complete tool. The full questionnaire should be administered to patients who indicate spending an hour or less per day outside their home, at least three days a week and are bothered by this.
As a psychiatrist, I personally believe that the development of the HiDE tool is a significant advancement in understanding and diagnosing hikikomori. Its structured approach offers a comprehensive method to properly assess this global issue, further enabling us to provide appropriate and effective treatment.
Dr James Harrison Smith, MD, Cure of Mind