CAPGRAS DELUSION

SYNDROME
Mariana Acevedo & Joshua Hales

Description
The person's primary delusion is that a close relative or friend has been replaced
by an impostor, an exact double, despite recognition of familiarity in appearance
and behavior.
The patient may also see himself as his own double. Persons suffering from
Capgras Syndrome typically believe they exist in a world of impersonators.

Syndrome Characterictics
1. The person is
convinced that
one or several
persons known
by the sufferer
have been
replaced by a
double, an
identical looking
imposter

2. The patient sees

true and double
persons

3. It can be
extended to
animals and
objects

4. The person is conscious

of the abnormality of
these perceptions. There is
no hallucination

5. The double is usually

a key figure for the
person at the time of
onset of symptoms. If
the person is married
the key figure could be
the husband or the wife
accordingly

Associated features
1.
Cerebral lesions
caused by head
injury

2.
Schizophrenic
diseased conditions

3.
Affects both sexes,
but prevalent in
women

Differential diagnosis
Similar disorders
Schizophre
nia

Alzheime
r

Hungtint
on

Multiple
sclereosis

Traumatic
brain injury

Mood
disorders with
delusions

Substance-induced
delusional disorders

Dementia

Cause
The Capgras Syndrome and related substitution delusions
have an organic etiology (35%).
A simple failure of normal recognition processes:
Brain damage to the right side
Drug overdose

Controversies about the etiology, between organic factors

and psychodynamic factors, or a combination of the two.

Treatment
Individual therapy
Persistence to establish a therapeutic empathy
Cognitive techniques with reality testing and reframing
Antipsychotics drugs

Counseling and
psychotherapy
Cognitive-behavioural therapy
Persistent gentle discussions about evidence for the belief
Reconsider the false belief about the substitution
delusions against the available evidence.

(An
example)

Thank you!

Bibliography

PsychNet-UK. Capgras (Delusion) Syndrome

http://www.psychnetuk.com/x_new_site/DSM_IV/capgras_syndrome.html