Capgras syndrome, or Capgras illusion, is a psychological disorder in which the individual has the illusion that a friend, partner, family member or pets have been replaced by similar assumptions or “impostors”.
People with Capgras syndrome recognize familiar faces, but they still believe this person is an impostor.
This syndrome belongs to the group of illusory diseases and may occur acutely, transiently or chronically.
The causes of Capgras syndrome may be related to psychological problems such as the Oedipus complex, in this case individuals, jealous of one parent, believe that the other is an imposter.
Another cause of Capgras syndrome may be brain damage, caused by head trauma, in areas related to identifying faces and emotions, in this case individuals may recognize people’s faces, but they don’t really know who they are. Like, for example, a mother who recognizes the child’s face but has no maternal feeling about it.
Some patients with Capgras syndrome also have epilepsy or Alzheimer’s disease.
Treatment of Capgras syndrome may include the use of antipsychotic medications and counseling.
Treatment should be individual and adapted to treat each individual’s delusions. Family members may also need counseling to learn how to manage the patient.