Oedipism: When psychosis reaches the eyes

Abstract Oedipism is a rare but serious ophthalmologic and psychiatric emergency that usually occurs in patients with severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia and can be life-threatening. We report the case of bilateral oedipism in a 37 years old woman suffering from schizophrenia since the age of 16. Psychiatric exam revealed delusional syndrome whose main themes were erotomaniac, influence, possession, and persecution. She had auditory, visual hallucinations, and mental automatism syndrome. The patient was treated by clozapine and underwent twenty sessions of electroconvulsivotherapy. After three months of hospitalization, Miss I·F's condition has improved but she lost definitively her sight. This case illustrates a rare complication of a severe mental disorder. Advanced theories explaining this acting out are various. Its management should be multidisciplinary and should involve psychiatrists, ophthalmologists, and neurologists in order to detect any associated lesions.