Since the end of September, 32 high school students in Yunnan have suffered from frequent episodes of fainting.

The cause of the mysterious illnesses could not be pinpointed until two psychologists from Kunming, capital city of Yunnan Province, completed an evaluation of the students.

Despite receiving a variety of treatments in local hospitals, the students' symptoms remained.

Local governments finally asked the provincial government for help and experts were sent to the school.

To the surprise of many local residents, the two psychology experts did not use medical instruments or prescribe any medicines to treat the children.

Instead, hours of talking between the doctors and students had amazing results. One sick child with little energy was restored to his previous lively behavior, including running around the school's playground led by the doctors.

The two psychologists, who practice at a hospital affiliated with Kunming Medical College, discovered that these students suffered from mental problems, not common physical illnesses.

The students were diagnosed with "hysteria," a medical term describing a psychological illness with symptoms of wild, uncontrollable excitement or extreme depression, and, in extreme cases, even coma.

Both psychologists later gave a lecture to high school students about mental health issues relevant to young people and answered more than 100 questions raised by the students in attendance.

(China Daily November 14, 2001)