Clinical Zoanthropy

Clinical Zoanthropy (CZ) falls under the umbrella of Delusional Misidentification Syndrome (DMS). DMS is a collection of delusions involving misidentification of others, the self, objects, or places. In the case of Clinical Zoanthropy, it is a delusional misidentification of the self. People with CZ believe that they are an animal, or are transforming into one.

The animal doesn’t have to be a wolf or werewolf, though canines are the most common - there have been case reports of CZ involving snakes, cats, cows and even bees. (Technically, CZ has many different names depending on what animals are involved - e.g., CZ involving dogs is called kynanthropy, cows is boanthropy, cats is ailuranthropy, and multiple animals (or general/unspecified animal transformation) is zoanthropy). CZ occurs all over the world, and the animals involved are often significant in the culture(s) of the person with CZ - for example, CZ involving rabbits in the US, where rabbits are popular pets, foxes in Japan and hyenas in Africa. Guessoum et al. theorise that CZ is a culture-bound syndrome (reflective of culture).

CZ is a somatic delusion, meaning it involves the body. Hallucinations can be part of CZ, for example: feeling or seeing hair growing on the body, or teeth sharpening into fangs. Some people with CZ see themselves transforming when they look in the mirror. Some people don’t hallucinate their transformations, but they have “body schema illusions” (i.e., feel like their body has changed).

There is often overlap with other DMS delusions, particularly other delusional misidentifications of the self. Some people, with or without CZ, believe that others have transformed into animals. There have been more than a few cases of people with both CZ and Cotard’s, where they believe they or their organs are dead or dying. Often, a person will cyCZe through different DMSs, sometimes reoccuringly.

Sometimes, generally with werewolf CZ, the act of transformation in CZ, or the strength of the delusion, is dependent on the phases of the moon. There has historically been an association with psychosis and the moon, especially when it’s full - this is where we get the word “lunatic” from.

Clinical Zoanthropy is associated strongly with mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and sleep disorders (particularly obstructive sleep apnea). It may be associated with stress and trauma, and can manifest symbolically. For example, a person who goes through abuse and feels dirty and worthless might develop Clinical kynanthropy (dog) as a psychotic reaction to trauma. Or a person who goes through abuse might develop Clinical kynanthropy as a reaction to their need for love and attention.