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Most readers are likely familiar with mental health conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia. Terms like anxiety and depression are common as well. But there are some truly bizarre mental illnesses that you probably don't know about.
Some of these conditions are specific to certain locations, affecting only those who visit certain places. Others can impact anyone, but are just as strange. Picture a disorder that leads someone to believe they don't exist, or that their home has been replaced by a duplicate, or that they are disconnected from their own body. You might be surprised that such disorders even exist.
10. Jerusalem Syndrome
Jerusalem syndrome is a psychological disorder that strikes tourists visiting Jerusalem. Those affected may believe they are Biblical figures or feel a strong connection to Jesus, often identifying themselves as having a special role in religious history.
In one case, an Irish woman visited a hospital, insisting that she was about to give birth to Baby Jesus, despite not being pregnant. A Canadian man believed he was Samson and attempted to destroy a wall. Meanwhile, an Austrian man asked the chefs at his hotel to prepare the Last Supper for him.
There have been incidents of tourists believing they are famous Biblical figures like King Solomon. Some begin preaching or shouting in public. One infamous case involved a British man who intended to die at the hands of Satan in an attempt to bring about the end of the world.
Approximately 50 tourists are affected by Jerusalem syndrome annually, though this number only reflects documented cases. Authorities suspect that many more go unnoticed. Interestingly, most individuals recover as soon as they leave Jerusalem.
9. Stendhal Syndrome
Stendhal syndrome, also known as Florence syndrome or hyperkulturemia, is a psychosomatic condition that can affect people who visit art galleries. Those affected become so emotionally overwhelmed by the beauty of the artworks that they experience physical symptoms.
Their heart rate accelerates, and they feel lightheaded and disoriented. Some may act erratically, experience hallucinations, or even lose consciousness. Interestingly, some individuals do not need to be in an art gallery to experience these symptoms. They can occur in any visually stunning environment.
Stendhal syndrome was first described by the French author Henri-Marie Beyle, who wrote under the pen name 'Stendhal,' in his 1817 book Naples and Florence: A Journey from Milan to Reggio. Beyle recounted how he became so overwhelmed by the stunning ceiling frescoes at the Santa Croce Cathedral in Florence, Italy, that he displayed symptoms resembling the disorder later named after him.
8. Fregoli Delusion
Fregoli delusion is a psychological condition in which an individual believes that all other people are actually the same person in disguise. Those affected by this disorder will claim that the apparent differences in others’ appearances and clothing are simply a ruse to disguise their true identity.
The disorder is named after Leopoldo Fregoli, an Italian actor renowned for his skill in impersonations. It was first observed in an unnamed patient who believed that everyone she encountered was one of two actresses, Sarah Bernhardt and Robine. The patient’s conviction was so strong that she attacked a stranger whom she believed to be Robine.
Convincing individuals experiencing the Fregoli delusion that they are affected by a disorder is often extremely challenging, if not impossible. One ten-year-old patient was convinced that everyone he encountered was his father in disguise. When a nurse was pointed out as being a woman, he responded by saying his father was clever enough to alter his appearance, and that even doctors wouldn’t be able to detect the transformation.
7. Clinical Lycanthropy
Clinical lycanthropy is a mental condition that causes individuals to believe they are turning into animals, particularly wolves. To adapt to this perceived transformation, those suffering from this disorder may begin to grunt like animals and use their fingers as makeshift claws. They may also complain about hair growth on their arms and sometimes mistake their reflection for that of an animal.
The first recorded case of clinical lycanthropy was in 1852 when a man believed he had turned into a werewolf. He was convinced that his body was covered in hair and that he had developed sharp, wolf-like teeth. Both of these claims were false. He insisted on eating raw meat, though he refused to eat it when served, insisting that only rotten meat would satisfy him.
Fortunately, clinical lycanthropy is rare. Only 13 reported cases have involved individuals believing they were wolves since 1850. However, when considering other cases where people believed they had transformed into different animals, the number increases to 56. Experts suspect that some cases have been overlooked, as clinicians may misdiagnose the disorder as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or psychotic depression.
6. Cotard Delusion
Cotard delusion is a rare mental disorder where individuals become convinced they are dead. They may feel disconnected from their bodies or even believe they are decomposing. In some cases, sufferers understand that they are alive but mistakenly think that certain parts of their bodies, such as their organs, are non-existent or lifeless.
Cotard delusion is often triggered by a traumatic event, such as an accident or a fainting episode. Sufferers may be convinced that they died during the event and that they are now immune to death because they are already deceased. The disorder was first documented in a Frenchwoman known only as Mademoiselle X.
In 1880, Mademoiselle X consulted Doctor Jules Cotard, reporting that she believed she was dead. Dr. Cotard became intrigued by her condition, conducting extensive research. He initially referred to her condition as 'the Delirium of Negation,' but it would eventually be named after him. Tragically, Mademoiselle X died from starvation, refusing to eat because she believed she lacked a stomach, nervous system, or torso.
5. Folie A Deux
Folie a deux, which translates to 'madness of two' in French, is a psychological disorder where the delusions of one person are passed on to another. This condition can also affect more people: 'folie a trois' for three individuals, 'folie a quatre' for four, and 'folie en famille' when it impacts an entire family.
The first known case of folie a deux occurred in the 19th century, when a couple named Michael and Margaret became convinced that someone was sneaking into their house and stealing their shoes. Their belief in this was so strong that they eventually began to convince themselves that this was actually happening.
In another case, three sisters were convinced that certain parts of the Bible were incorrect and that God had commanded them to live in a house that belonged to someone else. After vandalizing the property, they were arrested and detained in a cell, where they stripped off their clothes and sang hymns.
In a more recent case from 2016, a couple, along with their three children, fled their town, believing that someone was trying to kill them. The two youngest children also began to believe this delusion, creating a 'folie a quatre.'
4. Reduplicative Paramnesia
Reduplicative paramnesia is an uncommon mental disorder where individuals become convinced that their home, or another familiar building, has been replicated. Sometimes, they believe their residence has been altered to resemble a completely different structure. In some cases, sufferers even mistakenly think that the hospital they are in is actually their altered home.
Occasionally, those affected by this disorder believe that items from their home have been removed and relocated. One woman who experienced a stroke in the temporal lobe later suffered from this condition. After being discharged from the hospital, she insisted that furniture had been taken from her home and brought to the hospital.
3. Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder
Those with depersonalization-derealization disorder (also known as depersonalization disorder) often feel as though they are detached from their own bodies. This disorder can also lead people to question whether the things around them are real, or even doubt whether their memories belong to them.
Some individuals feel as though they are floating outside their bodies, while others are aware that they remain inside but perceive themselves more like machines than humans. They often believe they lack control over their actions and may feel as though their heads are wrapped in soft materials like cotton. Additionally, they may think their body parts are either larger or smaller than they truly are.
Depersonalization-derealization disorder is often more prevalent among those who have gone through traumatic events. The condition can last anywhere from hours to months. Individuals affected by it frequently struggle with relationships, as their focus tends to be on their perceived nonexistence rather than interacting with others. They will regularly check their own existence and the reality of their surroundings.
2. Delusional Parasitosis
Delusional parasitosis is a condition where an individual believes that their skin is infested with parasites such as lice, fleas, worms, or spiders.
Sufferers of this disorder often scratch at their skin to the point of injury. In more extreme cases, they may resort to harmful substances in an attempt to remove the imagined parasites. Some even take skin and hair samples, placing them under a microscope to present them to doctors as proof of the infestation.
Those experiencing delusional parasitosis are often so thoroughly convinced of their beliefs that they will confidently describe how the imagined creatures entered their bodies. In some cases, they even claim that the parasites have left their bodies and infiltrated their homes.
Delusional parasitosis is more common among elderly individuals and tends to affect women more than men. It is typically linked to an underlying condition, such as an anxiety disorder, which causes the person to fear illness. In rarer cases, it can be associated with other mental health conditions like schizophrenia or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
At times, the disorder may be the result of paranoia or could stem from substance abuse or alcohol withdrawal. In some instances, delusional parasitosis can evolve into folie a deux, where one person adopts the delusion because their partner believes in the same false reality. The situation worsens when the partner reinforces the belief in the nonexistent parasites.
1. Factitious Disorder
Factitious disorder, also known as Munchausen syndrome, compels individuals to feign illnesses. Those affected often go to great lengths to convince others they are seriously ill, such as by adding substances like blood to urine samples or heating a thermometer to simulate a fever.
In the most severe cases, individuals suffering from factitious disorder may harm themselves and even undergo surgery for conditions that do not exist. While they generally know they are not actually ill, they struggle to comprehend why they are pretending to be sick. Even when faced with proof of their health, they find it nearly impossible to stop feigning illness.
Factitious disorder imposed on another, also known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy, is a subset of factitious disorder. In this case, one person falsely claims that someone else is ill, often a parent declaring their child is sick. This behavior is equally harmful, as the parent may go so far as to harm the child in an attempt to demonstrate the child’s supposed illness.
