Lycanthropy as a culture-bound syndrome: a case report and review of the literature.
Rami Bou Khalil, Pierre Dahdah, Sami Richa, David Kahn
Journal of Psychiatric Practice 2012 DOI: 10.1097/01.pra.0000410988.38723.a3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case report and literature review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A 47-year-old woman with major depressive disorder with psychotic features |
| Topics | Depression |
| Keywords | Humans Citalopram Piperazines Quinolones Antipsychotic agents Antidepressive agents Treatment outcome Behavior control Delusions Psychotic disorders Ethnopsychology Culture Cultural characteristics Mythology Middle aged Lebanon Female Aripiprazole |
| Key findings | The authors argue that lycanthropy is a nonspecific manifestation of many psychiatric diseases, most commonly major depressive disorder with psychotic features, and is heavily influenced by the patient's cultural environment, with the animal species often representing the patient's delusional representation of evil. They propose it could be considered a culture-bound syndrome occurring with DSM-IV Axis I pathology. |
Abstract
Lycanthropy is an unusual belief or delusion that one has been transformed into an animal, or behaviors or feelings suggestive of such a belief. We report a case of lycanthropic delusions of becoming a snake in a 47-year-old woman who suffered from a major depressive disorder with psychotic features. We also present a literature review of articles published on the subject in English or French since 1975 identified via a MedLine search using the terms "lycanthropy" or "werewolf." Many case reports have described lycanthropy as a delusional disorder occurring acutely in patients who think they suffer from a demonic possession as a punishment for their acts. In these cases, symptoms are generally rapidly reversible. Lycanthropy seems to be a nonspecific manifestation of many psychiatric diseases, most commonly major depressive disorder with psychotic features. It is largely influenced by the cultural environment of the patient so that the animal species frequently represents the patient's delusional representation of evil. Lycanthropy could be considered a culture-bound syndrome that occurs in association with Axis I, DSM-IV psychiatric pathology.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on depression, most cited first.