Have you ever been so close to someone that your mood changes with theirs? Sounds normal, right? Yes. But what if you become so emotionally in sync with that person that you actually start to share their delusions or imaginative beliefs? It may sound like something out of a sinister movie or psychological thriller, right? But it’s real and it does have a name: Folie à Deux.
What Is Folie à Deux?
Folie à Deux is a psychotic condition that also goes by the name of shared psychotic disorder or shared delusional disorder, marked by a rare psychiatric condition where primarily two (or more) people share the common delusional beliefs. The term stems from French and translates to the “madness of two”.
This unusual condition makes its way in closely-knit relationships ranging from romantic partners and siblings to parent-child duos. In this condition, one dominant person has a psychotic disorder and then channels their delusions into the more passive partner.
But what are its symptoms?
Let’s take a look.
Key Symptoms of Folie à Deux
The main common signs of folie à deux are the shared delusion or vision, often revolving around:
- Paranoia: Believing that others are out to get them.
- Grandiosity: Thinking that they have special powers, maybe mighty ones.
- Persecution:. Fearing threats from enemies that are unreal and imaginative
Other symptoms may include:
- Social withdrawal or social alienation
- Impaired or compromised reality testing
- Reinforcement of each other’s false illusions and beliefs
- Resistance and reaction to treatment or outside opinions
Types of Shared Psychotic Disorder
There are various subtypes of Folie à Deux. Well, it depends on the nature of the relationship and how that particular delusion is shared:
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- Folie imposée (Imposed psychosis): One person always imposes their delusion on the other, who had not experienced that delusion before.
- Folie simultanée (Simultaneous psychosis): Both persons develop and stick to the delusion simultaneously.
- Folie induite (Induced psychosis): The second person already has a mild form of delusion, and it aggravates under the dominant influence.
- Folie communiquée (Communicated psychosis): It is similar to folie imposée, with the difference being that the secondary person resists the delusion initially. However, develop it after a certain period of time.
What Causes Folie à Deux?
Although there is not much evidence as to what causes this, certain contributing factors can be:
- Intimate emotional bonds with limited outside interaction
- Isolation from social support
- Isolation from differing viewpoints
- Pre-existing mental conditions in the dominant person
- Trauma or stress, especially within the shared environment
In some of the cases, the disorder can arise in situations that involve emotional enmeshment and codependency.
Real-Life Examples of Folie à Deux
Now, let’s look at some real case studies ( crime and psychological cases) that brought this disorder to public attention
The Eriksson Twins: A Real-Life Tale of Shared Madness
It was May 2008 when Ursula traveled from the United States to visit her twin sister Sabina living in Ireland. Without informing anyone, both sisters abruptly left Sabina’s home and started to make their way to Liverpool, England. Their abrupt departure raised some eyebrows, but what followed after was even more confusing and perplexing.
In Liverpool, the twins boarded a bus going to London. It was during a rest stop that their odd behavior starte sto coem out. They were clinging tightly to their bags and acting quite suspiciously. It, in turn, led the driver to refuse them re-entry onto the bus. Stranded, they started walking along the M6 motorway.
After a while, in a shocking turn, Ursula rushed into oncoming traffic and was struck by a lorry, injuring her legs severely. Sabina followed her. Surprisingly, both survived, but the entire incident was captured by a BBC film who were filming a documentary on motorway patrols at that time.
After recovering from the injuries, Sabina was released from custody. The following day, in a sudden and unprovoked attack, Sabina stabbed someone to death. She also fled the scene, hurting herself further by jumping from a bridge before being apprehended.
Psychiatrists later diagnosed Sabina with folie à deux. In this particular case, Ursula was considered the dominant sufferer, with Sabina developing her delusions later.
The Parker–Hulme Murder: A Chilling Tale of Teenage Obsession
In 1954, there were two teenage girls named Pauline Parker (16) and Juliet Hulme (15) who shared an intense friendship in New Zealand. Their bond was so deep that when faced with the idea of separation, the girls devised a terrifying plan: to murder Pauline’s mother, Honorah Rieper, who opposed their closeness.
On June 22, as per the plan, they invited Honorah for a walk in the Park. There, both attacked her with a brick concealed in a stocking, giving her over 20 blows. Initially framing it as an accident, their story attracted police scrutiny. During the investigation, diaries revealed their premeditated intent, naming it as “The Day of the Happy Event” .
At trial, the defense brought up the fact that they had shared a psychotic disorder. Nevertheless, both were convicted and sentenced to indefinite imprisonment.
Diagnosis: How Is Folie à Deux Identified?
Diagnosing folie à deux is quite challenging because the people may appear functional and coherent outside their mutual delusion. Psychiatrists use:
- Clinical interviews
- Psychological assessments or tests
- Observation in separate environments
Sometimes, separating the people helps determine if the delusional beliefs persist independently or not.
Treatment Options for Folie à Deux
Well, the good news is that the treatment is possible and it usually involves a multi-faceted approach:
Separation
Physically separating the affected persons is usually the first step to disrupt the common delusion.
Therapy
- Individual psychotherapy can help each person explore the roots of their delusional thinking and views.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can prove very effective when it comes to challenging irrational beliefs.
Can Folie à Deux Be Prevented?
Prevention is also difficult, but early intervention during cases of extreme dependency, social isolation, or untreated psychosis can help minimize the risk. Besides that, open communication plus therapy, and maintaining healthy social networks can come in very handy.
Folie à Deux may be rare, but it does not mean it does not exist. It is, simply, the powerful influence of human relationships on mental health.
