The term "folie gemellaire" refers to twin psychosis in French. It is pronounced as /fɔ.li ʒə.mɛ.lɛʁ/ with each letter representing a unique sound in the word. The 'f' is pronounced as /f/ while the 'o' and 'e' form the sound /ɔ/. The letter 'l' is pronounced as /l/, and the 'i' is pronounced as /i/. 'g' and 'm' each form distinct sounds /ʒ/ and /m/ respectively while the final 'e' and 'r' make the sounds /ɛ/ and /ʁ/ respectively.
Folie gemellaire is a term derived from the French language that refers to a rare psychological disorder known as "folie à deux" in English, which translates to "madness of two" or "shared psychosis." It is a psychiatric condition characterized by the presence of delusions, hallucinations, or other psychological symptoms that manifest in one individual, known as the primary or inducer, and are shared with another individual, known as the secondary or recipient.
In cases of folie gemellaire, the inducer's delusions or hallucinations are transmitted to the recipient, leading them to adopt similar beliefs or experiences even though there is no apparent organic cause for their psychological symptoms. The secondary individual may become fully immersed in the shared psychosis, displaying similar symptoms and behaviors as the inducer.
Folie gemellaire can occur within close relationships, such as siblings, spouses, or parent-child relationships, where a strong emotional bond and constant close contact facilitate the spread of shared delusions or hallucinations. It is believed to develop through an intense interpersonal dynamic and may be a reflection of the secondary individual's vulnerability and suggestibility to the inducer's psychiatric disturbances.
Treatment for folie gemellaire usually involves the separation of the two individuals, combined with individual psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, or a combination of both. The goal is to address the underlying psychological disturbances in both individuals, often requiring a long-term and comprehensive approach to achieve symptom resolution and prevent relapse.
A psychosis appearing simultaneously, or nearly so, in twins, who are not necessarily living together or intimately associated at the time.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "folie gemellaire" is derived from French.
"Folie" means "madness" or "insanity" in French. It comes from the Latin word "folia" which means "leaves" or "pages". The term "folie" originally referred to a book of songs or poems, and over time, it evolved to mean an assortment of different things, including madness or frenzy.
"Gemellaire" is derived from the Latin word "geminus", meaning "twin" or "duplicate". It refers to something that is paired or has a twin counterpart.
So, when combined, "folie gemellaire" translates to "twin madness" or "dual insanity" in English. It is commonly used to refer to "twin pregnancy" in medical terminology.