Susto's a cultural illness, specifically a "fright sickness" with strong psychological overtones. Susto comes from the Portuguese and Spanish word for "fright" (for example Sudden intense fear, as of something immediately threatening). A more severe and potentially fatal form of susto's called espanto (also from Spanish and Portuguese, meaning terror or intense fright). It's indigenously attributed to "soul loss" resulting from frightful or traumatic experiences. Among Native Indian populations… (More on Susto)