No exist syndromes of Finland

If you see a phrase with the word "syndrome", you should be doubtful. At least, I recommend that in Japan.

To begin with, "syndrome" is a medical term to direct a certain group which is not completely identified as a definite category. For example, "metabolic syndrome" is a potentially harmful state composed of hyperglycemia, hypertension, obesity, and so on. It is not a particular disease.
Therefore "syndrome" is sometimes easily used for naming a certain character or tendency which is not clarified. In medical region, practitioners cannot wait for the establishment of a new concept of a disease before starting to treat the patient. So, temporary or vague naming is allowed to some extent. But we should be cautious not to pretend to understand a unclear concept with naming it "X-syndrome".

(Interestingly, metabolic syndrome was called "syndrome-X" in the past.)

Do you know "Finland Syndrome"? If you not, it is glad.

It origins from a cohort study performed by the Ministry of Health in Finland. The result was published in JAMA, a world famous medical journal in 1985. Subsequent reports are also published.

Multifactorial Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases in Middle-aged Men
Risk Factor Changes, Incidence, and Mortality

In this study, participants are divided randomly into 2 groups, one of which are treated with some medical drugs and counseling, others are not treated. The result is surprising. Some medical diseases occurred more frequently in the treated group.

In Japan, some reporters seemed to misinterpret the results.
The rumor that, it is proved that temperate lifestyle is rather harmful to the body, was spread. Some people were encouraged to smoke. This research was introduced as an example that too much consciousness of health could damage health. This irony was named as "Finland syndrome".

The fact is that, it is nonsense.

The conclusion of the study did not say that temperance was harmful. It only suggested that some kind of medical drugs could cause adverse effects which offset the benefit of medication.

Now in English, "Finland syndrome" does not exist. I could not find this word also in Wikipedia Japanese version. With Google search, some websites which examine strictly about this concept appear on the top of the result. However, not a few people may believe the myth even now.

I am sorry that Finnish people are annoyed by the rumor, in spite of the accomplishment of this great research.