The Characteristics and Social Functioning of Pathological Social Withdrawal, "Hikikomori," in a Secondary Care Setting: a One-Year Cohort Study.

A sizable percentage of community clinic patients experienced Hikikomori. The "current" Hikikomori state corresponded with low clinic attendance and social function; "support from clinical staff" may increase visit regularity; no factors consistently improved social functioning. Further multi-site study is warranted to examine the generalizability of the findings from the current single-center study.