Fregoli syndrome is a psychological disorder that leads the individual to believe that those around him are able to disguise themselves, changing appearance, clothing or sex, to pretend to others. For example, a patient with Fregoli syndrome may believe that his doctor is in fact one of his masked relatives trying to pursue him.
The most common causes of this syndrome are psychiatric problems, such as schizophrenia, neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, or stroke brain damage, for example.
In some cases, Fregoli syndrome may be confused with Capgras syndrome, due to the similarity of symptoms.
The main symptom of Fregoli syndrome is the fact that the patient believes in changing the appearance of those around him, however, other symptoms may include:
In the presence of these symptoms, family members should take the person to an appointment with the psychologist or psychiatrist, so that the doctor can indicate appropriate treatment.
Diagnosis of Fregoli syndrome is usually made by a psychologist or psychiatrist after observing patient behavior and family and friends’ relationships.
Treatment of Fregoli syndrome can be done at home with a combination of oral antipsychotics, such as thioridazine or thiapride, and antidepressants, such as fluoxetine or venlafaxine, for example.
In addition, in patients with seizures, the psychiatrist may also prescribe the use of antiepileptic remedies, such as gabapentin or carbamazepine.