A case of co-existent Capgras and deClèrambault's syndrome with a history of morbid jealousy

Kennedy, Noel; Kelly, Brendan D.; Shanley, David; Gill, Michael

doi:10.1017/s0790966700005723

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Conversely, the secondary form manifests with a gradual onset, an ill-defined disease course, and the potential for substitution of the object of love. This form is associated with various mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and any subtype of dementia [23,[29][30][31][32][33][34], and may co-occur with Capgras syndrome, Fregoli syndrome, and Folie à Deux syndrome [35][36][37][38]. Notably, erotomania can also be secondary to physical or organic conditions.…”

Section: Historical Perspectivementioning

confidence: 99%

Induced erotomania by online romance fraud - a novel form of de Clérambault’s syndrome

Alotti,

Osvath,

Tenyi

et al. 2024

BMC Psychiatry

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Background Although the impact of internet usage on mental health is extensively documented, there is a notable scarcity of reports in the literature concerning internet-induced erotomania. Erotomania is a rare and likely underdiagnosed delusional disorder. It is characterized by an irrational belief held by the affected persons that someone of higher socioeconomic status harbor romantic feelings toward them. Here, we describe the psychopathology of erotomanic delusion induced by online romantic fraud in a female patient. Employing this case as a focal point, we illuminate novel aspects of erotomania that warrant attention and examination. Case presentation We present a compelling case involving a 70-year-old married Caucasian woman diagnosed with medically controlled persistent depressive disorder for several years. The intricacies of her condition became evident as she became deeply engrossed in online profiles featuring the image of a renowned musician, inadvertently falling victim to an online romantic fraud. Subsequently, this distressing experience triggered the emergence of erotomanic delusions and a suicide attempt. The patient's history reveals an array of medical conditions and stressful life events, contributing to her vulnerability. The diagnosis of erotomanic delusional disorder, dysthymia, and mild cognitive impairment with cerebral vascular background was established. Treatment involved her previous antidepressant with low-dose risperidone, alongside supportive individual and group therapy. Her delusion showed remission four weeks later, prompting her discharge for outpatient follow-up. Although she retained some false beliefs, the intensity of the symptoms had notably diminished and her functionality improved. Conclusion This case underscores the complex interplay between mental health, online activities, and the consequences of delusions, including suicidal thoughts, shedding light on the need for a comprehensive approach in addressing such challenging psychiatric scenarios.

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Section: Historical Perspectivementioning

confidence: 99%

Induced erotomania by online romance fraud - a novel form of de Clérambault’s syndrome

Alotti,

Osvath,

Tenyi

et al. 2024

BMC Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Kennedy et al . presented a case report describing the coexistence of de Clerambault's syndrome and Capgras syndrome (a syndrome in which a patient believes that a person, usually close to the subject, has been replaced by an identical double) 35 . Wright et al .…”

Section: Delusional Lovingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[28][29][30][31][32][33][34] Kennedy et al presented a case report describing the coexistence of de Clerambault's syndrome and Capgras syndrome (a syndrome in which a patient believes that a person, usually close to the subject, has been replaced by an identical double). 35 Wright et al reported the coexistence of Fregoli syndrome (the affected person believes that another person's mind can inhabit the body of another person) and erotomania. 36 From a forensic perspective, erotomania has been associated with stalking behavior and violent sexual jealousy, and both are more commonly shown by men; 37 it might sometimes involve physical harm or even homicide when the victim spurns the other's affections.…”

Section: Delusional Lovingmentioning

confidence: 99%

A romantic delusion: de Clerambault's syndrome in dementia

Cipriani¹,

Logi²,

Fiorino³

2012

Geriatrics Gerontology Int

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Erotromania (also known as de Clerambault's syndrome) is a rare disorder in which an individual has a delusional belief that a person of a socially higher standing falls in love with her/him. It has rarely been described in older people, but many cases have been reported in conjunction with psychiatric and neurological disorders. The purpose of this paper was to examine the phenomenon of erotomania in people with dementia. We carried out a search of electronic databases for literature on this subject. The search terms used were: erotomania, de Clerambault's syndrome, erotomanic delusion and dementia. The literature on erotomania in the course of dementia consists mostly of case reports and small samples of patients. Misinterpretation of events is common in brain disease, especially with diffuse or multifocal disorders, but erotomania has rarely been reported in dementia. The relationship between dementia and de Clerambault's syndrome remains uncertain. Erotic delusion arising late in life should be thoroughly investigated to rule out organicity.

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Love as delusion, delusions of love: erotomania, narcissism and shame

Kelly

2017

Med Humanities

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Erotomania has a long, colourful history in psychiatry. It is a rare condition in which the patient ('subject') develops the belief that he or she is loved from afar by another person ('object'). The subject is generally female, though men predominate in forensic samples. The object is generally perceived to belong to a higher social class, reflecting a sociopolitical element in the construction of love. Erotomania requires active treatment and risk management as it can be associated with stalking and other offending behaviour. In addition to featuring in the psychiatry literature, erotomania features in the biography of the economist John Maynard Keynes (the apparent 'object' of a woman's erotomanic delusions in the early 1900s) and in fiction (eg, Ian McEwan's ); this reflects, in part, the general popularity of romantic themes in broader literature and society. In psychological terms, certain cases of erotomania might be underpinned by combinations of longing, disappointment, shame and narcissism in specific social contexts. Lesser forms of delusional exaggeration of true love might also exist in some stable relationships, and might even be essential for their continued existence. Overall, the division between love and delusions of love is not as distinct as one might imagine. The potential presence of an element of delusional love in many relationships might well serve important social functions, conferring specific advantages on the parties involved and increasing social and community stability. After all, delusions persist; love dies.

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A case of co-existent Capgras and deClèrambault's syndrome with a history of morbid jealousy

Cited by 5 publications

References 17 publications

Induced erotomania by online romance fraud - a novel form of de Clérambault’s syndrome

Induced erotomania by online romance fraud - a novel form of de Clérambault’s syndrome

A romantic delusion: de Clerambault's syndrome in dementia

Love as delusion, delusions of love: erotomania, narcissism and shame

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