Capgras Syndrome

The Capgras syndrome or Capgras delusion , is a psychological disorder where the individual has the delusion that a friend, partner , family or pets , have been replaced by lookalikes or supposed " impostors " .

Holders of Capgras syndrome recognize familiar faces , but still believe that the person is an imposter .

This syndrome belongs to the group of delusional disorders and may occur in acute or chronic form , or transient .

Causes of Capgras Syndrome

The causes of Capgras syndrome may be related to psychological problems such as the Oedipus complex . In this case , individuals , because they jealous of a parent , believe that the other is an impostor .

Another cause of the syndrome may be Capgras the existence of brain damage caused by head injuries, in areas related to the identification of faces and emotions. In this case , individuals can recognize people's faces , but do not actually know who it is. For example , a mother who recognizes his son's face , but has no maternal feelings about it .

Some patients with Capgras syndrome also have epilepsy or Alzheimer's disease.

Treatment of Capgras Syndrome

The treatment of Capgras syndrome may be the use of antipsychotic medications and psychological counseling .

Treatment must be individual and suitable to treat the delusions of each individual. The family may also need psychological counseling to learn to deal with the patient .