Editing Werewolf (section)

== Lycanthropy as a medical condition ==
{{see also|Hypertrichosis|Clinical lycanthropy}}
Some modern researchers have tried to explain the reports of werewolf behaviour with recognised medical conditions. In 1963, Dr Lee Illis of [[Guy's Hospital]] in London wrote a paper entitled ''On Porphyria and the Aetiology of Werewolves'', in which he argues that historical accounts on werewolves could have been referring to victims of congenital [[porphyria]], stating how the symptoms of [[photosensitivity]], reddish teeth, and [[psychosis]] could have been grounds for accusing a person of being a werewolf.<ref name="Illis-1964">{{cite journal |last1=Illis |first1=L |title=On Porphyria and the Ætiology of Werwolves |journal=Proc R Soc Med |volume=57 |issue=1 |pages=23–26 |date=Jan 1964 |pmid=14114172 |pmc=1897308}}</ref>

This is argued against by Woodward, who points out how mythological werewolves were almost invariably portrayed as resembling true wolves, and that their human forms were rarely physically conspicuous as porphyria victims.<ref name="Woodward" /> Others have pointed out the possibility of historical werewolves having been people with [[hypertrichosis]], a hereditary condition manifesting itself in excessive hair growth. Woodward dismissed the possibility, as the rarity of the disease ruled it out from happening on a large scale, as werewolf cases were in medieval Europe.<ref name="Woodward" />

Woodward suggested [[rabies]] as the origin of werewolf beliefs, claiming remarkable similarities between the symptoms of that disease and some of the legends. Woodward focused on the idea that being bitten by a werewolf could result in the victim turning into one, which suggested the idea of a transmittable disease like rabies.<ref name="Woodward" /> However, the idea that lycanthropy could be transmitted in this way is not part of the original myths and legends, and only appears in relatively recent beliefs. Lycanthropy can also be met with as the main content of a delusion; for example, the case of a woman has been reported who during episodes of acute psychosis complained of becoming four different species of animals.<ref>Dening T R & West A (1989) "Multiple serial lycanthropy". ''Psychopathology'' 22: 344–347</ref>