Folie à Deux (shared madness): the strangest cases

The Folie a Deux or shared psychotic disorder It is one of those phenomena that are difficult to explain. How can it be that two people come to share a psychotic outbreak? 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 made into a movie with the movie Heavenly Creatures, in which two young girls suffered from the shared delusion that they needed to murder the mother of one of them to stay together, and in the film intruders. In addition, in one of the chapters of the famous series X Files, a guy makes everyone think his boss is a monster.

What is the Folie à Deux?

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 view of reality, but understands that dialogue between different people allows us to approach a more realistic vision of the things. But... what happens when two or more people perceive reality in a totally illusory way?

This is what happens at the Folie à Deux.

This disorder occurs when two or more people share psychiatric symptoms, usually delusions. Although in the ICD-10 and in the DSM-IV-TR Folie à Deux is considered a type of psychotic disorder, in the 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 two, has a French origin because it was first used to describe the event of the marriage of Margaret and Michael. This couple experienced this shared psychotic disorder. The psychiatrists did not know which of the two began the cycle of psychosis, but both entered a feedback loop that reinforced the delusions of 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 bits of lint around the house, or walked around in the partner's shoes until they wore out their soles.

Who can suffer Folie à Deux?

Generally, people who suffer Folie à Deux tend to have a close relationship and a level of Social isolation significant. Because 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 who were being arrested for trying to commit suicide crossing the highway. After rebuking 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 be hit by two vehicles.

Úrsula was seriously injured after being run over 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, he continued his 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 a Trois. None of them had suffered abuse or had a clinical history characterized by mental disorders. The disorder suddenly emerged when the three sisters became closer, since the eldest needed help to take care of her children. The other two sisters moved to 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 delusion, she was the one chosen to bring order to this situation. After three days of praying, without sleeping, the sisters believed that they should start their work in a house that was not theirs. They went to that house and politely asked the owners to let them in. When they were turned away, they tried to enter the house. Then the police showed up, prompting the three sisters to attack the officers.

Causes of Shared Psychotic Disorder

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. What's more, 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 sufferer of the disorder, and a dependent person who is considered a person induced to 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.

This treatment requires psychotherapy to help the patient recognize that he has 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.