Mirrored Self-Misidentification Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Cases

ObjectiveMirrored self-misidentification syndrome (MSMS) is a rare form of delusional misidentification syndrome characterized by the inability to recognize one's own reflection. We conducted a systematic review aiming to describe the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and management of individuals with MSMS.MethodsA comprehensive literature search was performed using original case reports/series on patients with MSMS. Univariate analyses were performed to assess patient demographics, clinical, paraclinical, and treatment-related characteristics. The methodological quality of included articles was evaluated using a standardized tool.ResultsOf 76 articles screened, 28 were included, with 36 patients analyzed. Median age was 77.0 (interquartile range: 72.0, 80.0) years; most patients were female (60.7%). Over half of the cases had a diagnosis of dementia, mostly Alzheimer's disease (50.0%), Lewy Body Disease (20.0%), and vascular dementia (10.0%), while the other diagnosis included stroke (3.3%), schizophrenia (3.3%), schizoaffective disorder (3.3%), and rabies (3.3%). Initial clinical manifestations included psychiatric symptoms (66.7%) and cognitive decline (70.0%). Brain magnetic resonance (MRI) was reported in 31 cases, with 14 cases (45.1%) showing right hemisphere dysfunction. Pharmacological interventions were effective for twelve cases (48.0%), and non-pharmacological interventions such as covering mirror were effective for 8 cases (32.0%). Most included articles (64.3%) were evaluated to be at low risk of bias.ConclusionsMSMS are rare conditions that mostly present in patients with dementia. Despite the varied clinical presentations, frontal and right hemisphere dysfunctions appear to play a role in the pathophysiology of MSMS, adding to the evidence supporting "a neuroanatomy of the self" in the non-dominant hemisphere.