A culture bound syndrome reported occasionally among the northern algonkian language group of indians (chippewa , ojibwa , and cree ) living around the great lakes of canada and the united states. Windigo psychosis usually developed in the winter when families were isolated by heavy snow for months in their cabins and had inadequate food supplies. The initial symptoms of this form of mental illness were usually poor appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Subsequently, the individual would develop a characteristic delusion of being transformed into a windigo monster. These supernatural beings eat human flesh. People who have windigo psychosis increasingly see others around them a being edible. At the same time they have an exaggerated fear of becoming cannibals.