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A Case of Reduplicative Paramnesia for Home.
Christopher S Peckins1, Leila Khorashadi, Edward R Wolpow
1*Department of Medicine †Department of Radiology ‡Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Mount Auburn Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachussetts.
Summary
A stroke caused a high-functioning elderly woman to develop reduplicative paramnesia, a delusion that her familiar home was a replica. This case highlights specific neurological deficits and delusional misidentification syndromes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuropsychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Delusional misidentification syndromes are rare neuropsychiatric conditions.
- Reduplicative paramnesia is a specific delusion where a place is believed to be a duplicate.
Observation:
- An 88-year-old high-functioning woman developed a persistent delusion that her long-term residence was an exact replica.
- This specific deficit appeared suddenly and was isolated.
Findings:
- The delusion is hypothesized to stem from a small cerebrovascular accident (stroke).
- The patient eloquently described her subjective experience of this unique delusion.
Implications:
- This case illustrates a highly specific neurological deficit following a stroke.
- It provides insight into the mechanisms of delusional misidentification syndromes and their varied presentations.
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