Title: Lasègue-Falret Syndrome – Folie Simultanée

Authors: Sushma Viswanathan, Swetha Raghavan, Akshay Singh, Sathianathan R

 DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i6.138

Abstract

Psychosis of Association, also known as folie à deux, as described by Gralnick refers to “the transference of delusional ideas and/or abnormal behavior from one person to one or more others who have been in close association with the primarily affected patient”[1].This report describes a 35 year old man who presented with paranoid symptoms and was diagnosed as Schizophrenia. However, on detailed evaluation it was found that his wife too harboured similar delusions. A definitive diagnosis of Shared Delusional Disorder was finalised. Here we report this challenging psychiatric condition of ‘Folie simultanée’ in a non-consanguineous married couple for the rarity of its occurrence.

Keywords-Psychosis of association, folie à deux, paranoid, delusions, folie simultanée.

References

1.      Gralnick A. Folie à deux-the psychosis of association. The Psychiatric Quarterly. 1942; 16(2):230-63

2.      Lasègue C, Falret J: La folie à deux. Ann Med Psychol. 1877; 18: 321-355.

3.      Regis E: La folie à deux. Paris, Thèse. 1880

4.      World Health Organization. The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders. Geneva; 1992

5.      Lazarus A. Folie à deux’: psychosis by association or genetic determinism? Comprehensive Psychiatry. 1985; 26(2):129–35.

6.      Dewhurst WG, Todd J: The Psychosis of association- folie à deux. J Nerv Ment Dis 1956; 124:451-459

Corresponding Author

Swetha Raghavan

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