Psychiatrists busy with Taiwan 'election syndrome'

TAIPEI - Taiwanese psychiatrists have been kept busy treating cases of so-called "election syndrome", with anxiety attacks and other disorders up 30 per cent in some hospitals, according to reports Sunday.

Politically over-zealous family members who started arguments with relatives or dragged their unwilling kin to election rallies ratcheted up the stress levels, the newspaper said.

And there were also more cases of sore throats, muscle strains and dodgy backs, which were put down to sustained screaming, and long bouts of standing and flag waving at campaign rallies.

Incumbent Ma Ying-jeou was cheered by huge crowds as he won a comfortable reelection victory, while many supporters of his main challenger Tsai Ing-wen were left in tears as she conceded defeat.

"The regrettable has happened. There is win and there is loss in an election, and we urge supporters not to be overly emotional," said former vice president Annette Lu, a heavyweight in Tsai's camp.

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