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Reversal of roles in folie à deux associated with manic-depressive illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

C M Dympna Ryan ,
Shaukat A Khan ,
Hilary M C Warwick  and
Richard H S Mindham
C M Dympna Ryan
Affiliation:
Leeds Addiction Unit, 19 Springfield Mount, Leeds LS2 9NG
Shaukat A Khan
Affiliation:
221 North East Glen Oak Avenue, Peoria, Illinois 61636, USA
Hilary M C Warwick
Affiliation:
University Dept. of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 7JX
Richard H S Mindham
Affiliation:
The University of Leeds, Academic Unit of Psychiatry, 15 Hyde Terrace, Leeds LS2 9LT
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Abstract

An example of folie à deux with an uncommon clinical picture is presented. It concerns two spinster sisters, with no past psychiatric history, who became simultaneously manic while on holiday. The “Principal” was clearly deluded; the “Associate” shared these abnormal beliefs. After recovery and eighteen months later, one became depressed and the other shared her suicidal ideas, but this time the roles of the “Principal” and “Associate” were reversed. The shortcomings of the ICD10 and DSM-IIIR in classifying this syndrome are highlighted.

Keywords

Folie à DeuxPrincipalAssociateReversal of RolesAffective Disorder
Type
Clinical & Brief Reports
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , May 1992 , pp. 55 - 57
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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