Folie

Folie is a term derived from the French language, meaning "madness". In the context of psychiatry, it refers to a series of mental disorders characterized by shared delusional beliefs. The term is most commonly used in the phrase "folie à deux" (madness shared by two), but it can also refer to larger groups, as in "folie à trois" (madness shared by three), "folie en famille" (family madness), or "folie à plusieurs" (madness of many).

Classification

Folie is classified into several types based on the number of individuals involved and the way the delusional beliefs are spread:

• Folie à deux: This is the most common form of folie, involving two people who share the same delusions. Typically, one person (the 'primary') initially has a delusional belief, and this is passed on to the other person (the 'secondary').

• Folie à trois, Folie à quatre, Folie à cinq, and so on: These are less common forms of folie, involving three, four, five, or more people respectively. The delusional beliefs are usually spread from a single 'primary' individual to the others.

• Folie imposée: This is a form of folie where the 'primary' individual imposes their delusional beliefs on another person, who had previously been functioning normally.

• Folie simultanée: This is a rare form of folie where two people, who both already have a predisposition to delusional beliefs, influence each other simultaneously to develop shared delusions.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

The main symptom of folie is the presence of shared delusional beliefs. These beliefs are typically bizarre and have no basis in reality. They may involve themes of persecution, grandiosity, love, or jealousy.

Diagnosis of folie involves a psychiatric evaluation to identify the presence of delusional beliefs and determine whether these are shared with others. The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition) includes criteria for shared psychotic disorder, which is the equivalent of folie.

Treatment

Treatment for folie typically involves treating the underlying psychiatric disorder that is causing the delusional beliefs. This may involve medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. In some cases, separating the individuals involved can help to break the cycle of shared delusions.

See Also

• Delusional disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Psychosis

References

Folie Resources
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