Imagine looking into the eyes of your spouse, parent, or child and feeling a chilling certainty that they are not who they claim to be. This is the reality of Capgras Syndrome, a rare 'delusion of doubles' where the brain’s emotional wiring breaks, leaving a person convinced that their loved ones have been replaced by identical impostors."
This is considered the most prevalent delusional misidentification syndrome and is characterised as a delusion of doubles. Certain neurological conditions or mental health conditions increase the risk of this syndrome as well.
When was Capgras Syndrome identified?
CS got its name from Joseph Capgras, a psychiatrist of French origin. In 1923, Capgras first defined the disorder in a paper that reported a case of a French-origin woman who complained that corresponding doubles had replaced her husband and other persons she knew. The woman also believed that there existed a double of herself.
What are Capgras syndrome symptoms?
Often, it is the primary caregiver who would end up looking like an imposter, making it difficult for both.
*Becoming agitated, angry or upset
*Refusing to talk to them or talk when the person is present
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*Saying the imposter makes you feel anxious or afraid
*Showing aggressive behaviour like threatening or even attacking them physically
* Refusing to believe any evidence that the person you think is an imposter really is a friend or family member
*Focused on exposing the imposter
What causes the syndrome?
Though there is no single known cause, studies say that the condition occurs as there is a disconnect between your temporal lobe, which manages facial recognition, and your amygdala (part of the brain that processes emotions).
*Brain injury
*Underlying mental health conditions
*Neurodegenerative diseases
*Central nervous system conditions like epilepsy, cerebrovascular accidents, infectious diseases or exposure to toxins might trigger this.
Generally, antipsychotic medications are used as treatments for this condition. Experts also recommend psychological therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy.