Capgras Syndrome: In the Conscious and the Unconscious Mind: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Capgras syndrome is a delusional belief that familiar individuals or objects have been replaced by identical impostors.
• Atypical presentations of Capgras syndrome can challenge diagnostic classification and treatment approaches.

Observation:

• The patient presented with an unusual form of Capgras syndrome, believing not only familiar people but also consensual reality were impostors.
• Delusions fluctuated with social stressors, and the patient occasionally demonstrated insight into their nature.
• The condition was resistant to standard pharmacological treatments.

Findings:

• Successful treatment was achieved through a combination of individual psychotherapy and pharmacological management.
• This approach led to the resolution of the patient's complex delusions of misidentification.
• The case highlights the potential efficacy of integrated treatment for medication-resistant Capgras syndrome.

Implications:

• This case suggests Capgras syndrome might exist on a spectrum within broader psychotic disorders.
• It underscores the importance of tailored, multimodal treatment strategies for complex delusional disorders.
• Further research is warranted to explore the neurobiological underpinnings and therapeutic targets for atypical Capgras syndrome.