What is folie à deux?
Q: What is folie à deux?
A: Folie à deux is a mental disorder where an otherwise sane person develops the symptoms and delusions of a person suffering from psychosis. If more than two people share the symptoms or delusions, it is referred to as folie à trois (3), folie à quatre (4), folie à plusieurs, or folie en famille.
Q: How many forms of this condition are there?
A: There are two main forms of the condition - Folie imposée and Folie simultanée.
Q: What is Folie imposée?
A: Folie imposée is when one person forms a delusion and passes it on to other people. If those people get separated, the delusions in those who did not develop them first will usually disappear quickly.
Q: What is Folie simultanée?
A: Folie simultanée occurs when two people suffering from delusions influence each other so that their delusions become very similar.
Q: When was the condition first described?
A: The condition was first described in an article published by Ernest-Charles Lasègue and Jules Farlet in 1877.
Q: Is mass hysteria considered a form of folie à deux?
A: Yes, mass hysteria can be seen as a form of folie à deux.
