Shared Delusions and Mass Psychogenic Illness

We all know family road trips can be fun, bonding experiences that generate fond memories, but they can also be filled with tension and frayed nerves—although perhaps not to the degree experienced by the Tromp family of Silvan, Australia.  In August 2016, Mark and Jacoba Tromp and their adult children Riana, Mitchell, and Ella embarked on a perplexing journey of around 1000 miles that captivated the country.  They abruptly left their home, abandoning their phones and credit cards.  What followed was a five-day saga of mystery and confusion.  The family’s erratic behavior, including apparent paranoia and separation, led to a nationwide search.  The incident, dubbed the “Tech-Free Family Road Trip,” sparked widespread speculation about mental health, shared psychosis, and the pressures of modern life on their successful farm.  During this family travel season, we work to dissect what happened and why.  Was this bizarre odyssey a contagious emotional meltdown, or was there an actual threat to their safety as the parents initially thought?  

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