In 2002, ten girls at a rural high school in North Carolina developed seizures and other symptoms, which persisted for five months across various grade levels. The incidents tended to occur outside of class, with half of them happening around lunchtime, and half of the affected students were cheerleaders or former cheerleaders. The outbreak was attributed to mass hysteria, reflecting the social pressures and anxiety experienced by adolescent girls in a competitive school environment.

The North Carolina high school seizures have been cited in psychological and sociological studies as an example of mass psychogenic illness in a school setting. The event has inspired writers to explore the dynamics of fear and the power of suggestion among young people, and it has been referenced in works that examine the psychology of groups and the role of stress in triggering collective behavior. It also serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of adolescents to social contagion.