Clinical Lycanthropy is a medical disease, psychiatric syndrome, in which a person believes that they are a wolf. The belief leads to a person taking on the personality and characteristics of the animal. Their mind creates the delusion, causing the person to believe they can change into a werewolf. Often, they enter into a hallucinogenic state where they believe they have changed into a wolf-creature. This change leads to aggression and in some cases, violent behavior. Modern physicians believe that Lycanthropes suffer from one and/or all the following diseases:
- Schizophrenia - Hysterical Neurosis - Manic Depressive Psychosis - Psychomotor Epilepsy Today, these individual conditions can and are commonly treated with a combination of therapy and medication. While I am not a psychologist, I can only share with you research I have found on the varying conditions related to clinical lycanthropy. In these cases, neurological conditions and cultural influences also affect the afflicted person. Neurological factors One important factor may be differences or changes in parts of the brain known to be involved in representing body shape (e.g., see proproception and body image). A neuroimaging study[5] of two people diagnosed with clinical lycanthropy showed that these areas display unusual activation, suggesting that when people report their bodies are changing shape, they may be genuinely perceiving those feelings. [Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_lycanthropy] Recorded cases, 12, since 1974 at McClean Hospital in Belmont, MA shows that clinical lycanthropy still exists even the 20th century. [ Paul E. Keck, Harrison G. Pope, James I. Hudson, Susan L. McElroy and Aaron R. Kulick (1988). Lycanthropy: alive and well in the twentieth century. Psychological Medicine, 18, pp 113-120. doi:10.1017/S003329170000194X. ]
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Before we venture into the world of psychotic killers who murdered and sometimes ate their victims under the guise of being a monstrous wolf, I recommend - The Book of Were-Wolves by Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould.
Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (28 January 1834 – 2 January 1924) was an English Anglican priest, hagiographer, antiquarian, novelist and eclectic scholar. Baring-Gould, an English parson, “published numerous collections of sermons and wrote several hymns, the best-known being ‘Onward Christian Soldiers.’ Baring-Gould’s interest in legend and folk-lore marks his secular writings and is apparent in his Book of Were-Wolves (1865) and Curious Myths of the Middle Ages (1866).” This work on were-wolves is still cited today, and remains a standard work on the subject. After presenting a wide range of mythological and folkloric traditions, Baring-Gould argues for the origins of lycanthropism in a universal human tendency toward blood lust and sadism. This book takes a look at were-wolf (lycanthropic) lore from the days of ancient Greece and Rome to the mid-nineteenth century. Baring-Gould cites hundreds of sources in building his case for the lycantrhopy, he takes a deep look at detailed accounts concerning Marechal de Retz - true bluebeard. This book is a must read for any were-wolf aficionado. Find it on Amazon. |
Bekah JuneBorn in Enid, Oklahoma this native Oklahoman now resides in the Metro of Oklahoma City. Patronizing her local arts district businesses and writing for The OKC Edge when she isn't traveling the South Central part of the U.S. lecturing on all things concerning the occult ArchivesCategories
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Escape into Insanity | werewolves |