TOP 7 BIZARRE MENTAL DISORDERS
1. STOCKHOLM SYNDROME
Stockholm syndrome is the name of the disorder in which a person becomes sympathetic to a person harming them in some way. It can appear in people who are sexually abused, raped, or kidnapped. The most famous case is that of Patty Hearst a millionaire’s daughter who was kidnapped in 1974. She not only ended up sympathizing with their cause, but she also ended up engaging in criminal activities with them.
2. LIMA SYNDROME
Lima syndrome is the opposite of Stockholm syndrome in that the captors become sympathetic to the hostages. It is named after a crisis in Peru where several dignitaries were held hostage, including the future president of Peru and his mother. The hostages were released and the terrorists were all captured.
3. PARIS SYNDROME
Paris syndrome is a disorder that affects mostly Japanese people. The disorder is characterized by a nervous breakdown when visiting the city of Paris, due to an inability to cope with the culture shock. It is most likely that the tourists are unable to reconcile the perfect image of Paris shown by most films, with the not-so-perfect city that exists in reality. There is even a twenty-four-hour hotline for tourists suffering from the syndrome.
4. STENDHAL SYNDROME
Stendhal syndrome is a disorder in which a person experiences hallucinations, confusion, and rapid heartbeat when in the presence of particularly beautiful or famous art. It can also occur occasionally in people when they experience an especially stunning natural landscape.
5. CAPGRAS DELUSION
The Capgras delusion is a bizarre disorder in which a person believes that someone they know (usually a loved one) has been replaced by an identical imposter. It often occurs in sufferers of schizophrenia, but it can also appear in people suffering from brain injury or dementia.
6. FREGOLI DELUSION
The Fregoli delusion is the opposite of the Capgras delusion. In this case, a person believes that different people in their life are the same person who appears in a variety of disguises. It is named after Leopold Fregoli who was able to make quick changes between scenes when acting on stage.
7. REDUPLICATIVE PARAMNESIA
Reduplicative paramnesia is the belief that a location has been duplicated— causing it to appear in two places. Occasionally the sufferer believes an area has been relocated elsewhere. For example, the reduplicative paramnesia may think the hospital he was admitted to has now been moved to a different part of the country.
