Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T10:02:27.916Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Primary and secondary erotomania: Is the distinction worthwhile?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Aidan McGennis
Affiliation:
St. Brendan's Hospital, Dublin 7, Ireland.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the phenomenology of erotomania and to discuss the relevance of its classification into primary and secondary forms.

Method: Two case reports are presented. Both were female, non-Irish nationals who travelled to Ireland expressly to pursue their objects, who were both members of an internationally famous rock band. Case 1 and Case 2 are presented as primary and secondary erotomania, respectfully.

Result: The difficulty in distinguishing primary from secondary erotomania is discussed; the modern literature is referred to, which appears to be divided about the status of the primary form of this disorder as a distinct entity.

Conclusion: Until further advances are made in elucidating mental disorders, diagnosis will remain symptom-based, leaving diagnostic formulations somewhat over-crowded with syndromes of undetermined aetiology. Such is the case with erotomania.

Type
Brief Reports
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1998

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Enoch, MD, Trethowan, W. De Clerambault's syndrome. In: Uncommon psychiatric syndromes. 2nd ed. Bristol: John Wright, 1979.Google Scholar
2.de Clerambault, CG. Les Psychoses passionelles, oeuvre psychiatrique. Paris: Presses Universitaires, 1942.Google Scholar
3.Roth, M. The achievements and limitations of DSM-III. In: Spitzer, R, Williams, J, Shodol, A, eds. International perspectives on DSM-III. Washington: American Psychiatric Association, 1983.Google Scholar
4.Hayes, M, O'Shea, B. Erotomania in Schneider – positive schizophrenia. Br J Psychiatry 1985: 146: 661–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed) (DSM-IV). Washington, DC: APA, 1994.Google Scholar
6.Lovett-Doust, et al.The pathology of love: some clinical variants of de Clerambault's syndrome. Soc Science Med 1978; 12: 99106.Google Scholar
7.Rudden, Met al.A comparison of delusional disorders in women and men. Am J Psychiatry 1983; 140: 1575–8.Google ScholarPubMed
8.Hollender, MH, Callahan, AS. Erotomania or de Clerambault syndrome. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1975; 35: 1265–7.Google Scholar
9.Taylor, Pet al.Erotomania in males. Psychol Med 1983; 13: 645–50.Google Scholar
10.World Health Organisation. The 1CD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders. Geneva: WHO, 1992.Google Scholar
11.Ellis, P, Mellsop, G. deClerambault's syndrome – a nosological entity? Br J Psychiatry 1985; 146: 90–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.Mullen, PE, Pathe, M. The pathological extensions of love. Br J Psychiatry 1984: 165623.Google Scholar
13.Segal, JH. Erotomania revisited: from Kraeplin to DSM-III-R. Am J Psychiatry 1989; 146: 1261–66.Google Scholar