Shared psychotic disorder - a case study of folie à famille.

BACKGROUND: Folie à famille is a rare form of shared psychotic disorder. It is defined as the transfer of delusions from one person to another. CASE REPORT: This paper presents a case of shared psychotic disorder in two brothers, aged 16 and 17 and their mother who were admitted on the same day at the Clinic for psychiatry. The inducer was a mother, suffering from schizophrenia. She transferred her delusions to her sons. Both boys produced mostly the same paranoid delusions, that the others have been recording and monitoring them since their father died. After few days, the older boy, who had more severe psychotic symptoms, was treated with aripiprazole, while both received anxiolytics in low dosage. RESULTS: We observed a withdrawal of psychotic psychopathology in both kids. Genetic burden, social isolation and strong emotional connection of family members are factors that have contributed to the development of shared psychotic disorder in this case. CONCLUSIONS: The new approach of treatment for induced psychosis includes not only separation from the primary case, but also specific pharmacotherapy. It is necessary to think about this clinical entity, because this delusional disorder needs specific treatment, with better prognostic outcomes.

FAMILIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CHALLENGES IN ADOLOSCENTS WITH HISTORY OF CHILDHOOD ABUSE.

Violence, child abuse and neglect, which can lead to physical, psychological and social impairment and cause serious long-term consequences, are widespread throughout the world. The aim of our study is to examine the characteristics of the family and the emotional-behavioral difficulties of adolescents who were abused in childhood, compared with those who did not experience abuse. Sixty participants of both genders aged 12 to 18 years were divided into two groups (abused adolescents and the control group). The medical documentation and the self-report questionnaire for youth (SRQY) were used for data collection.The data were analyzed by JASP 0.8.5.1 by ANOVA. 46.67% of adolescents reported that they experienced neglect, 10% physical abuse, 3.33% emotional abuse, and 40% have suffered from several types of abuse. Usually, they are abused by both parents. In abusive families, the average number of siblings, divorced and single parents is higher than in non-abusive families and the level of parents' education is lower compared with the control group.The adolescents with abusive experience have more somatic disturbances, delinquency, and aggressive behavior (p<0.01) than controls.Adolescents with childhood neglect and abuse develop multiple psychopathological difficulties that require psychological and psychiatric intervention to prevent the negative consequences in adulthood.

Role of sexual abuse in development of conversion disorder: case report.

Described case report speaks in favour of the relation between childhood sexual abuse with the development of conversion disorder. Following Salmonella poisoning, adolescent, at the age of 16, develops series of severe somatic symptoms. Results of diagnostic procedures excluded organic foundation of the symptoms; diagnosis of conversion disorder is established. Soon, patient's problems stop abruptly and spontaneously, and the aetiology of the mental disorder remains unexplained. Six years later, adolescent reveals for the first time data about the childhood sexual abuse during the forensic evaluation (within the court process related to the request for compensation for the complications which occurred following the Salmonella infection). During the forensic evaluation, we had insight into the previous medical history, while an interview, psychological and psychiatric exploration was conducted with the examinee. Data about the sexual abuse retrospectively explain the dynamics of the development of conversion disorder. The described case indicates that sexual abuse of children and adolescents frequently remains unrecognized, which has sequels for treatment and prevention of subsequent consequences for mental health. It is important to emphasize the significance of examining history of abuse during the diagnostic of certain mental disorders. Forensic implications of the case have not been discussed in details for the needs of this report.