Use the term in context
The 2021 systematic review by Guessoum and colleagues examines clinical lycanthropy from neurobiological and cultural perspectives. Another review published in 2025 examines the broader literature on clinical therianthropy. Their scope and search dates differ. Do not combine them into a single current frequency statistic.
What a case report does not establish
Case reports can describe a clinical observation in detail. The number of published cases, however, is not prevalence in a population. Rare and striking accounts may also be more likely to be published, affecting the examples readers encounter. Do not substitute a news story’s “werewolf” wording for a definition.
Limits for the reader
This is a guide to reading the literature, not a diagnostic test, treatment recommendation or assessment of an individual. Social-media images or a person’s chosen name do not establish a clinical conclusion. Assessing a clinical condition requires consultation with a professional.
Archive context
The Turkish URL for this historical PiVOLKA 20 topic is preserved. The new web explanation and historical publication are separate records. Access the preserved documents through issue 20. For current research, read the methods and limitations of the reviews listed below.
Sources and provenance
Source check / web edition: 14 October 2026. Historical documents retain their own original dates.