Lycanthropy: New Evidence of Its Origin

Abstract

Two cases of lycanthropy will be described. Its possible aetiology and psychopathology will be discussed. In the first case there is clear evidence of an organic origin of the syndrome which is reported for the first time.

Co‐existence of lycanthropy and Cotard's syndrome in a single case

“…he believed that his wife and daughters were also transformed into a dog and sheep, respectively. The only article reporting a delusion of relatives being transformed into animals was reported by Moselhy (5). The question is how these two syndromes could co‐exist?…”

Lycanthropy – psychopathological and psychodynamical aspects

“…In the current medical literature man–animal metamorphoses were described concerning the following animals: wolf/werewolf (1, 5–9), dog (5, 10–18), gerbil (5), rabbit (5), horse (10, 13), tiger (5, 19), cat (5, 10), bird (5, 13, 20), unspecified animal species (5, 15), frog and bee (17). In Asia, Africa and South America, metamorphoses in tiger, hyena, crocodile and shark were observed (21, 22).…”

“…The symptomatology can be seen as a continuity spectrum of developmental and culture dependent normal behaviour (5, 13) via transitional – a fantasy of an artist – and partial forms (9, 15) to the whole picture of lycanthropy described by Keck et al (5). The length of transformation is usually short (5, 10, 11), symptomatology has mostly disappeared in a week's time.…”

Belief in transforming another person into a wolf: could it be a variant of lycanthropy?

“…To our knowledge there are two previous reports. The first report by Moselhy (7) described a patient who had the impression that another person was transformed into an animal, and assessed the case as a type of lycanthropic intermetamorphosis. In another report, a patient believed his wife and daughters had been transformed into animals (8).…”