Clinical Lycanthropy, Neurobiology, Culture: A Systematic Review

Summary

A systematic review of 43 cases of clinical lycanthropy and kynanthropy—delusions of turning into a wolf or dog—found these beliefs occur across several psychiatric diagnoses, including schizophrenia, psychotic depression, and bipolar disorder. Antipsychotic medication may be effective regardless of the underlying diagnosis; antidepressants or mood stabilizers are used when depression or mania is present. Neuroscientific hypotheses propose impairments in sensory integration, belief evaluation, or right hemisphere anomalies. The syndrome overlaps with other delusional misidentification syndromes and appears culturally bound to Western werewolf narratives. A cultural, narrative, and patient-centered approach is recommended for assessment and care.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Background: Culture can affect psychiatric disorders. Clinical Lycanthropy is a rare syndrome, described since Antiquity, within which the patient has the delusional belief of turning into a wolf. Little is known on its clinical or therapeutic correlates. Methods: We conducted a systematic review (PRISMA) on PubMed and Google Scholar, until January 2021. Case reports, data on neurobiological hypotheses, and cultural aspects were included. Language was not restricted to English. Results: Forty-three cases of clinical lycanthropy and kynanthropy (delusion of dog transformation) were identified. Associated diagnoses were: schizophrenia, psychotic depression, bipolar disorder, and other psychotic disorders. Antipsychotic medication may be an efficient treatment for this rare transnosographic syndrome. In case of depression or mania, the treatment included antidepressants or mood regulators. The neuroscientific hypotheses include the conception of clinical lycanthropy as a cenesthopathy, as a delusional misidentification of the self-syndrome, as impairments of sensory integration, as impairments of the belief evaluation system, and right hemisphere anomalies. Interestingly, there is a clinical overlap between clinical lycanthropy and other delusional misidentification syndromes. Clinical lycanthropy may be a culture-bound syndrome that happens in the context of Western cultures, myths, and stories on werewolves, and today's exposure to these narratives on cultural media such as the internet and the series. We suggest the necessity of a cultural approach for these patients' clinical assessment, and a narrative and patient-centered care. Conclusions: Psychiatric transtheoretical reflections are needed for complementaristic neurobiological and cultural approaches of complex delusional syndromes such as clinical lycanthropy. Future research should include integrative frameworks.

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