Oneiroid syndrome: A concept of use for western psychiatry

Oneiroid syndrome (OS), or dream-like fantastic delusional derangement of c onsciousness, is characterized by a kaleidoscopic quality of psychopatholog ical experiences, wherein reality, illusions and hallucinations are merged into one. It is typically accompanied by motor and, in particular, catatoni c disturbances. This syndrome is an uncommon psychiatric state, which is ha rdly mentioned in standard psychiatric textbooks. OS is a neglected entity among DSM-oriented psychiatrists because it deals with a phenomenological a pproach in contrast to the European attitude, which deals with detailed cli nical descriptions. Here, we propose detailed clinical descriptions with a number of consecutive stages of the OS development, illustrated by two vign ettes with typical variants of oneiroid syndrome, in order to raise the awa reness of psychiatrists who are nut familiar with this state, and to try to open a window to the inner life of those patients suffering from this synd rome. These cases may also serve as illustration of certain principles whic h, when understood, may be found to lend in turn to a deeper knowledge of t he psychopathology of other more commonplace conditions.