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Abducted by aliens: a case study
1Boston University Medical Center, Psychiatry Residency Training Program, MA 02118, USA. adneagoe@bmc.org
Psychiatry
|August 31, 2000
Summary
This case study examines Shared Psychotic Disorder in a married couple, using a psychological autopsy for the deceased partner. The unique delusion, influenced by Western culture, highlights potential risks and psychodynamic factors.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
Background:
- Shared Psychotic Disorder (SPD), also known as folie à deux, is a rare psychiatric condition.
- This case involves a married couple where one partner (the inducer) transmitted delusions to the other (the recipient).
Observation:
- The recipient's delusions were reconstructed via a "psychological autopsy," utilizing 19 tape recordings of her recollections and spousal history.
- The couple's shared delusion was uniquely shaped by contemporary Western cultural themes.
Findings:
- The case presents a unique manifestation of SPD not previously documented in the last 30 years.
- The specific content of the delusion was influenced by modern Western cultural narratives.
Implications:
- The study highlights the potential for such cases to escalate into homicide-suicide pacts.
- Discussion includes psychodynamic hypotheses on pathogenesis and the influence of cultural factors on prognosis in SPD.