Capgras' syndrome: the delusion of substitution

J Clin Psychiatry. 1987 Apr;48(4):147-50.

Abstract

The English and French literature on Capgras' syndrome yielded 315 patients, 212 of whom provided the basis for review. Forty-six percent presented with an affective disturbance. Seven variant forms of a unified delusion of substitution are described: Capgras; subjective doubles, Capgras type; Fregoli; intermetamorphosis; subjective doubles, autoscopic type; "reverse" subjective doubles; and "reverse" Fregoli. Classes of single and multiple forms of the delusion with either functional or organic etiology were compared. Multiple form classes had a greater diversity of variant forms.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Capgras Syndrome / classification
  • Capgras Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Capgras Syndrome / psychology
  • Child
  • Delusions / diagnosis
  • Delusions / psychology
  • Depersonalization / diagnosis
  • Depersonalization / psychology
  • Female
  • France
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / diagnosis
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / psychology
  • Psychotic Disorders / diagnosis*
  • United Kingdom