Delusional Hermaphroditism: A Rare Variant of Delusional Misidentification Syndrome

Abstract

Since the historical contribution of Capgras and Reboul-Lachaux, several researchers began exploring various dimensions of the fascinating phenomena of delusional misidentification syndromes. Recently, Mulholland and O’Hara have reported a new variant of delusional misidentification syndromes named ‘delusional hermaphroditism’. In this study, we report another case of this rare entity.

Psychiatric Illness Presenting with a Sexual Complaint and Management by Psychotropic Medications: A Case Report

“…However, she was able to retain her female identity, which was demonstrated by labeling herself as “female” during her evaluation. Unlike someone with delusional hermaphroditism, our patient did not believe she was both male and female, rather she was transforming into a male from a female [9]. And, as with many schizophrenic patients with DMS, pharmacological noncompliance was present and contributed to her disorder, which was witnessed by the disappearance of symptoms with proper medication administration.…”

Clonal Pluralization of Self, Relatives and Others

“…In the syndrome of subjective doubles the patient has a delusional belief that a stranger has been transformed physically but not psychologically into the patient's own self [2] . In addition some rare syndromes like delusional hermaphroditism [3] , reverse forms of Capgras, Fregoli and intermetamorphosis [4] , and delusion of inanimate doubles [5] have been described. A variety of organic lesions have been found to be connected with misidentification syndromes.…”