Have you ever heard the tales of werewolves and full moons? While these stories may seem like mere legends, they are steeped in a condition known as lycanthropy – a rare psychiatric condition that causes an individual to believe they can transform into an animal, specifically a wolf or werewolf. In this article, we will explore what lycanthropy is, its symptoms, triggers, and possible connections to werewolf mythology.

What is Lycanthropy?

Lycanthropy is a psychiatric condition that causes a person to have delusions that they can transform into an animal, often resembling a wolf or werewolf. This delusion can be so strong that a person can become fully immersed in the belief, complete with behavioral changes such as growling or howling, changes in speech or language, and even physical changes in appearance. Lycanthropy is most often seen as a form of psychosis and is thus considered a break from reality.

Lycanthropy is a rare condition with an unknown prevalence, though estimates put it at between 0.1% to 0.2% of psychiatric patients. While the condition isn’t known to be directly harmful in most cases, it can still be a concerning behavior; a person experiencing lycanthropy may be at risk of hurting themselves or others around them.

Symptoms of Lycanthropy

The symptoms of lycanthropy can vary significantly from patient to patient. Common symptoms may include:

• Believing that one has the ability to transform into an animal, such as a wolf
• Acting like an animal, growling, howling or scratching at things
• Changes in attitude or behavior, which may include feelings of aggression, irritability or increased violence
• Changes in speech or language, which may include speaking in animalistic sounds or phrases
• Feelings of wanting to hunt, capture or kill prey

It’s worth noting that many of the symptoms of lycanthropy can vary in severity, from mild to completely overwhelming. In some cases, a patient may be partly aware of themselves and their actions, while at other times, the delusion may completely take over their personality.

Causes of Lycanthropy

The exact causes of lycanthropy are not well understood. However, it is believed that lycanthropy may be related to other mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, dissociative identity disorder, or bipolar disorder.

Stressful or traumatic experiences and substance abuse may also be contributing factors in the onset of lycanthropy. Additionally, a rare genetic disorder known as “werewolf syndrome” or hypertrichosis, which results in excessive hair growth on the body, may sometimes be linked to lycanthropy.

Connections to Werewolf Mythology

The link between lycanthropy and werewolf mythology is long-established. Tales of werewolves have been around for centuries, and they often center around the idea of a person changing into a wolf or animal form completely. While lycanthropy is not caused by magic or occult powers, it’s clear that stories of werewolves have deep roots in popular culture.

One of the more famous accounts of lycanthropy is the story of “The Wolf-Man,” written by Sigmund Freud in 1918. The story tells the tale of a man who believed he changed into a wolf, despite the lack of physical evidence to support the delusion. The book went on to inspire many other stories about people with this condition.

In modern times, pop culture has embraced the myth of the werewolf, with numerous movies and TV shows glamorizing the idea of shape-shifting into a wolf. However, it’s important to remember that lycanthropy is not just another movie monster; it is instead a serious, life-altering psychiatric condition that requires professional help and medical intervention.

Treatments for Lycanthropy

Lycanthropy is considered to be a serious condition and typically requires professional care, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or medication. In some cases, antipsychotic and mood-stabilizing drugs may be prescribed to help manage symptoms.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy, in particular, can be effective in helping patients with lycanthropy cope with and challenge their delusions. This type of therapy works by identifying and reframing the cognitive distortions that maintain the delusion. With proper treatment, many people with this condition are able to regain a sense of normalcy in their lives.

A Word From WHTA Director

Myself, along with my creative partners, have always taken great interest In the lycanthropy delusion aka werewolf syndrome diagnosis in the case of Austin Harrouff. Lycanthropy delusions is a rare mental disorder that causes individuals to believe that they are wolves, dogs or other kinds of animals.

According to reports, Austin Harrouff developed this delusion shortly before he attacked John Stevens and Michelle Mishcon in their Jupiter home, which led to their unfortunate demise. The defense argued that this delusion was the reason behind Harrouff’s violent actions and strange behavior, while the prosecution maintained that he was fully aware of his actions and the consequences.

The tragic events that occurred at the hands of Austin Harrouff in November, 2016 serve as a stark reminder of the importance of good mental health. Austin reportedly suffered from a severe mental illness that led to his violent and deadly behavior while many others including the victim’s families argue that it was caused by his extreme substance use/abuse. By prioritizing good mental health, we can prevent similar tragedies from occurring. This can involve seeking professional help for mental health issues, creating a support network of loved ones and professionals, and practicing self-care through activities such as exercise and mindfulness. By staying aware of our own mental health needs and those of our loved ones, we can help prevent mental illness from escalating and causing harm to ourselves and innocent others.

We urge our audience to remain vigilant and to help us grow our mission by subscribing and sharing our content at www.whtadoc.com. You can also find us on all social media platforms @whtadoc, where we aim to bring high-quality content and foster conversations on issues that matter.

Cristie Lee

Independent Filmmaker

References:

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-clinical-lycanthropy

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7971710/

https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2022-06-25/werewolf-syndromemyth-and-reality.html