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Primary and secondary erotomania: Is the distinction worthwhile?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

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

Keywords

Primary erotomaniaSecondary erotomaniaAetiology.
Type
Brief Reports
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , March 1998 , pp. 22 - 23
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1998

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