KEY POINTS:
New Zealand doctors will not be found wanting as the rugby World Cup marches inexorably towards its inevitable conclusion next month.
This month's New Zealand Doctor magazine devotes an invaluable two-page spread to help GPs recognise and treat the symptoms of the little-researched but nevertheless debilitating World Cup syndrome.
Written by Opotiki GP Jo Scott-Jones, the light-hearted article highlights one of the most pressing questions facing New Zealand doctors today: What effect is the World Cup rugby tournament going to have on the nation's health?
Scott-Jones notes that whenever the All Blacks - or indeed any New Zealand team - does badly, there is a national sense of disappointment.
"It is my conjecture this same emotional effect can reflect itself in patient presentation."
Scott-Jones said the presence of acute stress disorder would not be noted in every patient, but "watching some games (Australia 28 v New Zealand 7 in 1999 springs to mind) the spectator is subject to images of severe trauma and feelings of horror and hopelessness, to which a varied response can be expected".
However, symptoms of stress and acute stress could be observed in all spectators, she said.
Scott-Jones pointed out that even favourable outcomes held risks.
Climbing into bed with frozen feet to share a celebratory mood with someone who has been asleep for hours "and has to get up for work and really, despite being a pretty good all round person, does not share your enthusiasm for rugby" holds very specific dangers.
"Temporary impotence may result."
To help doctors in their diagnosis and treatment over the next month, Scott-Jones has listed a swathe of presenting complaints.
Scott-Jones notes that persistent symptoms may require "counselling, advice and guidance in progressive relaxation or medications".
- NZPA
