Arithmomania (from Greek arithmós, "number", and maníā, "compulsion") is a mental disorder that may be seen as an expression of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD).[1] Individuals experiencing this disorder have a strong need to count their actions or objects in their surroundings.[2]
For example, individuals with arithmomania may feel compelled to count steps while climbing or descending stairs or to tally the number of letters in words. They often feel compelled to repeat an action a specific number of times to avert a perceived catastrophe. Other examples include counting tiles on floors or ceilings, lines on highways, or touching objects a specific number of times, such as doorknobs or tables.
Arithmomania sometimes develops into a complex system in which the person assigns values or numbers to people, objects and events in order to deduce their coherence. Sometimes numbers are linked to the past events and the person remembers the events again and again by particular numerical values. One performs their actions a particular number of times, and this number is linked to their particular satisfied event.[clarification needed] Counting may be done aloud or in thought.
Folklore
[edit]European folklore concerning vampires often depicts them with arithmomania, such as a compulsion to count seeds or grains of millet.[3] Count von Count, a vampire character on Sesame Street, is known for counting everything and anything.
In popular culture
[edit]Inspector Franklin Jalbert, a character in the 2024 novella Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream by Stephen King, suffers from arithmomania.[4][5]
References
[edit]- ^ Yaryura-Tobias, José A.; Neziroglu, Fugen A. (1997). Obsessive-compulsive disorder spectrum: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. American Psychiatric Publishing. pp. 12. ISBN 0-88048-707-0.
Arithmomania, a common form, causes patients to engage in addition, division, subtraction and multiplication endlessly.
- ^ Schiffer, Randolph B.; Rao, Stephen M.; Fogel, Barry S. (2003). Neuropsychiatry: A Comprehensive Textbook, Second Edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 948. ISBN 978-0781726559.
Charcot, however, was the first to identify the involuntary "impulsive" ideas, such as doubting mania, double checking, touching, making sure to count correctly and arithmomania (an obsession with counting and numbers), as part of GTS and to link them to the impulsive movements.
- ^ Abbott, George Frederick (1903). Macedonian Folklore. University Press. pp. 219. ISBN 0521233429.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) - ^ King, Stephen (2024). "Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream". You Like it Darker. Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 978-1-399-72509-5.
- ^ Iglesias, Gabino (May 31, 2024). "4 New Horror Books to Read, Including Stephen King's Latest Collection". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 31, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.