Lycanthropy revisited.

Review of Literature The literature on lycanthropy is extensive and includes publications from ancient as well as modern times. It is widespread across the world. The near extinction of wolves in Western Europe and most of America may well have diminished the occurrence of lycanthropy in the Western World but the condition continues to exist in a modified form in China, India, Indonesia, Assam, Malaysia, and in many African countries (2, 3). In these countries, the delusions include transformation into other ferocious animals, such as hyenas, tigers, crocodiles, and wolves. The definition of lycanthropy through the ages is fairly universal, namely that once a man is changed into a wolf, he acquires its characteristics, roaming around at night,