Erotomanic delusions in a male with a mental handicap.

Reiss et al. (1993) wrote up one man with intellectual disability.

He believed a famous woman loved him. No proof existed.

Doctors call this fixed belief erotomania, or de Clérambault’s syndrome.

The team showed that even people with low IQ can hold romantic delusions.

The man’s story matched the classic picture: unreachable target, endless proofs, no doubt.

Cameron et al. (1996) later saw the same thing plus two extra delusions. Their client also thought people swapped faces (Capgras) and wore disguises (Fregoli). Medicine eased his symptoms, hinting that pills may help when erotomania rides along with other psychotic tricks.

Holden et al. (2003) counted symptoms in 165 adults with ID. They found that challenging behavior often partners with psychosis. The single case in Reiss et al. (1993) now feels less rare; it sits on the psychosis end of the picture Børge drew.

Fernandes et al. (2016) tracked sexual behaviors in 184 people with ASD. About one in four showed inappropriate sexual acts, and lower adaptive skills raised the risk. Erotomanic fixations fit that pattern: a sexual idea, fixed, seen when cognitive support is low.

If your client with ID keeps saying a star loves him, do not laugh it off. Treat the claim like any other psychotic sign. Screen for more delusions, consider medical help, and add safety plans if the belief drives stalking or aggression.