Did you know that clinical lycanthropy is a recognized disorder? Though the condition doesn't cause a physical transformation, those afflicted with it believe they are taking on the traits of (and eventually becoming) wolves. Read on to explore the features of clinical lycanthropy... and three real-life cases.
The Lore of LycanthropyLegends of shapeshifters can be found way back in ancient history. Greek mythology features Lycaon, a king of Arcadia transformed into a wolf after serving Zeus a meal of human flesh. The Lycaea ceremony supposedly commemorated this using human sacrifice - with meat from the victim included in a feast. It was said that whoever consumed the human flesh would become a wolf.
Slightly closer to modern times, King James wrote about lycanthropy in his 1597 book Daemonologie. Despite his religious leanings, the king ascribed it to an excess of melancholy (in other words, madness) rather than demonic possession.
Modern science discounts the idea of physical transformation into a wolf, instead viewing self-professed werewolves as victims of clinical lycanthropy - a psychological condition where the sufferer believes they are turning into a beast.
To make matters even stranger, there is some evidence that the disorder varies by culture. The majority of cases of clinical lycanthropy (or kynanthropy, where the victim believes they are transforming into a dog) are from Western Europe, the USA, Turkey, Iran or India - places where wolves and dogs feature strongly in mythology. A similar disorder from Japan (kitsunetsuki) involves the victim believing themselves to be possessed by or transforming into a fox instead.
The Werewolf of BedburgOne possible example of clinical lycanthropy comes from Peter Stumpp, a 16th-century German peasant farmer. He was accused of being a werewolf based on the fact that he was missing a hand, a characteristic shared with the supposed wolf. In some versions of the story, he was caught when other villagers spotted a wolf-like shape in the woods and chased it down, only to find Stumpp at bay amidst the hounds.
It should be noted that these were turbulent times - the Cologne War being fought between Protestants and Catholics had left plenty of opportunity for soldiers, deserters and mercenaries to indulge their darker habits. It wasn't uncommon to find the robbed and murdered on the roads between villages.
Put on the rack, Stumpp confessed to a huge number of murders, cannibalism and more. He also claimed that the devil had given him a girdle that changed his shape into that of a wolf, allowing him to commit these atrocities incognito. While information obtained under torture is extremely suspect, schizophrenia is often accompanied by hallucinations and delusions of grandeur. It is possible that Stumpp truly believed he was a werewolf who talked to the devil.
The patient exhibited a number of delusions regarding lycanthropy. He believed small physical changes were occurring based on his reflection in the mirror, and thought that werewolves were calling him, telling him to join them. The level of anxiety this produced in the boy convinced observers that he genuinely believed that this was happening.
Fortunately, a course of anti-psychotics was enough to control the condition in a matter of weeks. Interestingly the boy had received surgery to remove an extra finger, something often connected with the otherworldly in folklore.
The man began to act furtively over the next few days, whilst outright running through the corridors on all fours at others. He also began howling, and seemed to have some kind of inner dialogue - he would occasionally start smiling or scowling for no apparent reason. When questioned, he eventually admitted to hearing voices and believing that he was a werewolf.
When treated with ziprasidone (an antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia) the abnormal behaviors faded away and he seemed to shed the idea that he was a werewolf. Researchers suggest that an impaired sense of self (i.e., due to schizophrenia) may lead to a sufferer forming a new self-image based on the narratives around them - in this case the werewolf media he had collected!
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| Wolves have featured in mythology since time immemorial... (christels) |
The Lore of LycanthropyLegends of shapeshifters can be found way back in ancient history. Greek mythology features Lycaon, a king of Arcadia transformed into a wolf after serving Zeus a meal of human flesh. The Lycaea ceremony supposedly commemorated this using human sacrifice - with meat from the victim included in a feast. It was said that whoever consumed the human flesh would become a wolf.
Slightly closer to modern times, King James wrote about lycanthropy in his 1597 book Daemonologie. Despite his religious leanings, the king ascribed it to an excess of melancholy (in other words, madness) rather than demonic possession.
Modern science discounts the idea of physical transformation into a wolf, instead viewing self-professed werewolves as victims of clinical lycanthropy - a psychological condition where the sufferer believes they are turning into a beast.
Wolves on the Brain
Despite the name, clinical lycanthropy is a purely mental condition - sufferers do not exhibit any physical changes. Symptoms vary, but common ones include:- Delusions of becoming a wolf (or other animals)
- Hallucinations of manifesting animal traits such as fangs or fur
- Disorganized speech, including imitation of animal vocalizations
- Disorganized behavior such as acting like a wild animal
Confounding Comorbidities
Though the underlying causes of clinical lycanthropy are still unclear, research has turned up a common thread - the existence of a co-morbid psychotic or affective disorder in the sufferer. These disorders can include schizophrenia, psychotic depression or bipolar disorder. Less commonly, epilepsy or substance abuse have been linked to cases.To make matters even stranger, there is some evidence that the disorder varies by culture. The majority of cases of clinical lycanthropy (or kynanthropy, where the victim believes they are transforming into a dog) are from Western Europe, the USA, Turkey, Iran or India - places where wolves and dogs feature strongly in mythology. A similar disorder from Japan (kitsunetsuki) involves the victim believing themselves to be possessed by or transforming into a fox instead.
 |
| Not so cute now... (christels) |
The Werewolf of BedburgOne possible example of clinical lycanthropy comes from Peter Stumpp, a 16th-century German peasant farmer. He was accused of being a werewolf based on the fact that he was missing a hand, a characteristic shared with the supposed wolf. In some versions of the story, he was caught when other villagers spotted a wolf-like shape in the woods and chased it down, only to find Stumpp at bay amidst the hounds.
It should be noted that these were turbulent times - the Cologne War being fought between Protestants and Catholics had left plenty of opportunity for soldiers, deserters and mercenaries to indulge their darker habits. It wasn't uncommon to find the robbed and murdered on the roads between villages.
Put on the rack, Stumpp confessed to a huge number of murders, cannibalism and more. He also claimed that the devil had given him a girdle that changed his shape into that of a wolf, allowing him to commit these atrocities incognito. While information obtained under torture is extremely suspect, schizophrenia is often accompanied by hallucinations and delusions of grandeur. It is possible that Stumpp truly believed he was a werewolf who talked to the devil.
Teen Wolf
The youngest case of clinical lycanthropy on record involved a 12-year-old French boy. The first indication that something was wrong occurred when he was taken to hospital having scratched and bit classmates. A few months later he refused to take part in a school field-trip due to a full moon.The patient exhibited a number of delusions regarding lycanthropy. He believed small physical changes were occurring based on his reflection in the mirror, and thought that werewolves were calling him, telling him to join them. The level of anxiety this produced in the boy convinced observers that he genuinely believed that this was happening.
Fortunately, a course of anti-psychotics was enough to control the condition in a matter of weeks. Interestingly the boy had received surgery to remove an extra finger, something often connected with the otherworldly in folklore.
Of Wolf and Fan
Finally, in 2013 a 20-year-old man was admitted to hospital after showing erratic behavior at home. His family had a history of bipolar disorder and had occasionally used alcohol and marijuana, but was otherwise healthy. Notably, he did have a bit of a fascination with the werewolf horror genre.The man began to act furtively over the next few days, whilst outright running through the corridors on all fours at others. He also began howling, and seemed to have some kind of inner dialogue - he would occasionally start smiling or scowling for no apparent reason. When questioned, he eventually admitted to hearing voices and believing that he was a werewolf.
When treated with ziprasidone (an antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia) the abnormal behaviors faded away and he seemed to shed the idea that he was a werewolf. Researchers suggest that an impaired sense of self (i.e., due to schizophrenia) may lead to a sufferer forming a new self-image based on the narratives around them - in this case the werewolf media he had collected!
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