“Phlebomania Hancocksia”: prevalence of a previously undescribed psychomotor disturbance

While we were taking blood samples from cardiac surgical patients to study platelet function and blood loss1 2 3 we observed a common phenomenon. Several patients asked how much blood was going to be taken, and a proportion of them responded uniformly to the reply that it was to be only enough for one large syringe. They first appeared shocked, uttering: “What, that's almost a whole armful!” A hysterical phase manifest by uncontrollable laughter would then follow, usually ending in an apology in response to the concern of medical staff. As a means of explanation the afflicted patient would often utter a bisyllabic word sounding like Hancock.

This psychomotor disturbance with its unique combination of bizarre facial expression …