Capgras' syndrome: a synthesis of various viewpoints

The authors review the literature on Capgras' Syndrome and note that there has been little attempt to integrate the various etiological theories into a cohesive synthesis which accounts for both the organic and the psychodynamic theories. It is proposed that Capgras' Syndrome represents a nonspecific symptom of regression to an early developmental stage characterized by archaic modes of thought, resulting from a relative activation of primitive brain centres. Thus, either psychological regression alone or organic disorders that compromise higher cerebral functioning may result in Capgras' Syndrome. Two cases are presented for discussion and elaboration of these concepts.