Folie à Deux (shared Madness): The Strangest Cases
The Folie à Deux either shared psychotic disorder It is one of those phenomena that is difficult to explain. How can two people share a psychotic break? There are not many reported cases of this pathology, but its presence continues to surprise psychologists and psychiatrists around the world.
The rarity of the Folie à Deux has inspired various novels and films. It has been taken to the cinema with the film Heavenly Creaturesin which two young girls suffered from a shared delusion that they needed to murder one of their mothers to stay together, and in the film Intruders. Furthermore, in one of the chapters of the famous series X-Filesa guy makes everyone think his boss is a monster.
When we talk about what reality is, we tend to understand it as the objective truth that always remains there, even if no one pays attention to it or reflects on it. Reality is, therefore, what is objective, what does not depend on points of view. Thus, it is easy for a person to develop a distorted vision of reality, but it is understood that dialogue between diverse people allows us to approach a more realistic vision of things. But… what happens when two or more people perceive reality in a totally illusory way? This is what happens in the Folie à Deux.
This disorder occurs when two or more people share psychiatric symptoms, usually delusions. Although in ICD-10 and DSM-IV-TR Folie à Deux is considered a type of psychotic disorder, in DSM V it is relocated and there is no specific distinction for this psychopathology.
‘Folie à Deux’ means madness of two
The name Folie à Deux, which literally means madness of twohas a French origin because it was first used to describe the case of Margaret and Michael’s marriage. This couple experienced this shared psychotic disorder. The psychiatrists did not know which of the two began the cycle of psychosis, but Both became immersed in a feedback loop that reinforced the delusions of the marriage..
They both thought their house was being targeted by random people. These people never robbed them or tried to destroy their home, but instead spread dust or pieces of lint around the house, or walked with the couple’s shoes until they wore out their soles.
Who can suffer Folie à Deux?
Generally, people who suffer from Folie à Deux tend to have a close relationship and a significant level of social isolation. That’s why It can occur between members of a marriage, between siblings or between parents and children..
The case of the sisters Úrsula and Sabina Eriksson
A case that became very famous occurred in 2008, when Úrsula and Sabina Eriksson, two twin sisters, were being arrested for trying to commit suicide by crossing the highway. After berating the agents and paramedics and accusing them of wanting to steal their organs and that they were not real, cThey managed to cross the highway and were hit by two vehicles.
Úrsula was seriously injured after being hit by a truck, while Sabrina, after being hit by a car, recovered a few days later. After spending a night in jail for trying to attack the officers, she continued with her delusions. The same day she went out on the street, she murdered a man and tried to commit suicide again. She was sentenced to five years in prison. The event was recorded by police cameras. We warn you that the images are harsh.
Folie a Trois: another strange case of shared psychotic disorder
Another case that became famous is that of three American sisters who were involved in a case of Folie à Trois. None of them had suffered abuse or had a medical history characterized by mental disorders. The disorder emerged suddenly when the three sisters strengthened their ties, since the eldest needed help taking care of her children. The other two sisters moved into a nearby house, so they spent a lot of time together.
Over time, the three sisters had strong religious beliefs and the little girl began to question how there could be different interpretations of the Bible. In her shared delirium, she was the one chosen to bring order to this situation. After three days of praying, without sleep, the sisters believed that they had to begin their work in a house that was not theirs. They went to that house and asked the owners politely to let them in. When they were rebuffed, they tried to enter the house. So The police showed up, causing the three sisters to attack the officers..
Although the origin of this disorder is not at all clear, a characteristic feature that usually appears in these cases, in addition to the close relationship, is the social isolation of both members. Besides, a stressful situation can trigger psychotic symptoms.
Experts think that among the actors of this psychopathology there is a dominant person who is the first to suffer from the disorder, and a dependent person who is considered a person induced to the disorder.
Possible treatments for this disorder
The goal of treatment is separate the induced person and try to stabilize the dominant person. Therefore, there may be a different treatment for both affected people.
This treatment requires psychotherapy to help the patient recognize that they have the pathology. As well as to treat the emotional and relational problems that are present in the disorder. Pharmacological treatment is also necessary to act directly on psychotic symptoms. Therefore, it is necessary to administer antipsychotics to stabilize the patient with delusions.
