Erotomania: A case and review

Abstract

Introduction

Erotomania (“Clérambault's syndrome”) is a rare syndrome characterized by a delusional belief of being loved by another person, usually of higher social status.

Objective

This case report aims to describe and discuss a case of erotomania, providing an updated review on this disorder.

Methods

Regular clinical interviews were performed during admission period to collect information about the clinical case and to promote an intervention approach to the patient. A literature review in Science Direct database, with the keyword “erotomania”, was also conducted.

Results

A 51-year-old woman was admitted in Beatriz Ângelo Hospital psychiatric ward with delusional beliefs of being loved by the ex-boss. Positive misperceptions and persecutory delusions regarding her husband as the obstacle for the love were manifested. The lack of insight for the situation and the necessity of treatment created some difficulties. A clinical report and a bibliographic review were made to allow a better understanding about the case and to orient the case evidence based.

Conclusions

Despite the evidence about the good response of atypical antipsychotics (e.g. risperidone) in erotomania, in our case study, the partial remission was only achieved with high dose of the old typical antipsychotic, pimozide.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.