Vampires, Werewolves & Demons: Twentieth Century Reports in the Psychiatric Literature

by Richard Noll

Make no mistake, this is a serious, scholarly, altogether professional book--but it also has all the elements of a Stephen King novel. Filled with real-life tales of mystery, misery, and psychological mayhem, it challenges us to realize the unfathomable and to reexamine traditional definitions of fact and fantasy. And Richard Noll proves a sure-footed guide as he crosses the boundary of standard psychiatric nomenclature into the world of identity transformation and blood obsession. Meticulously researched and edited, the book brings together an international selection of contributions--historical and current--to reveal the depth and breadth of psychopathology as it manifests in vampirism, lycanthropy, and demonical possession. Mr. Noll's own explorations of the subjects weave together clinical, anthropological, and literary perspectives to create a rich and multitextured portrait of these psychiatric disturbances. As the labyrinthian nature of the human psyche unfolds within these pages, we are reminded again and again of the power of the beast that lurks beneath the surface of day-to-day existence. This is not a book for the faint of heart. But for those whose thirst for knowledge compells them to question the unquestionable, it is a unique and provocative exploration of disorders that lie beyond the reach of current genetic, biochemical, and neurophysiological understanding.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, History, True Crime

244 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1991

About the author

Dr. Richard Dean Noll, Ph.D. (Clinical Psychology, New School for Social Research, 1992; B.A., Political Science, University of Arizona, 1979), is a clinical psychologist, historian of medicine, and Associate Professor of Psychology in the College of Sciences at DeSales University (Pennsylvania). Previously, he taught and conducted research at Harvard University for four years as a postdoctoral fellow and as Lecturer on the History of Science. During the 1995–1996 academic year, he was a visiting scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a resident fellow at the Dibner Institute for the History of Science and Technology.

Reviews

[Marvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining but informative collection of twentieth century case studies from psychiatric journals involving vampirism, lycanthropy, and demonic possession. The studies are from the 1960s through the 80s so they are a bit dated. However these are serious articles designed to explore the far reaches of human behavior. These are also well researched psychological treatises and not questionable "science" such as paranormal psychology or crypto-zoology. I like the study of clinical vampirism also known as Renfield Syndrome, a badly named disease as Renfield liked to eat insects and rodents, not just drink blood. There are also case studies of lycanthropy. While this is usually a person who thinks he is a dog there is one example of a man who thought he was a cat, a delusion that lasted 13 years. Another interesting essay discusses the rise of neuroses and psychosis involving demon possession after the release of the movie The Exorcist. Not the normal psychology book but one that would be an entertaining side trip for those readers into horror and dark fiction.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting analysis of several psychological case studies involving patients experiencing delusions of vampirism, lycanthropy or demonic possession. While sensational, Noll approaches the material as a professional.

[Christine Whittington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I have no background as a clinical psychologist, I find the author's link between vampirism, lycanthropy, and demonic possession and multiple personality disorder fascintating.