Capgras syndrome: a literature review and case series

Hillside J Clin Psychiatry. 1986;8(1):56-74.

Abstract

The authors have presented a description and review of the Capgras Syndrome along with data from a case series of 25 patients with misidentification syndromes (24 Capgras Syndrome, 1 Fregoli Syndrome). From this data, the following conclusions can be drawn: The Capgras Syndrome is not a rare condition, but an uncommon one which is probably frequently overlooked. The misidentification syndrome is not important as a diagnostic entity. It appears in a variety of psychiatric and neurologic conditions. Capgras Syndrome appears to have a possible neurological link in clinicopathological studies; it has been correlated with lesions which produce prosopagnosia. Capgras Syndrome seems to occur more frequently in women, blacks and schizophrenics. Capgras Syndrome had a high (15%) incidence in our adult inpatients diagnosed as having schizophrenia. From this figure we estimate a 0.12% prevalence of Capgras Syndrome in the general population. Capgras Syndrome is often associated with medical illness and when found should signal the alert clinician to investigate for occult organic conditions.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Capgras Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Capgras Syndrome / psychology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Manuals as Topic
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / diagnosis
  • Psychotic Disorders / diagnosis*