Capgras' syndrome-an impostor in the family?!

India
February 24, 2007 10:05am CST
Today i have educated myself on another disorder - the capgras' syndrome!!..and what's unique about this disorder??..the patient has a feeling that his relatives/close friends are being replaced by someone else who is identical to the original.. There's a difference between this disease and what's called as paranoia..paranoid people have a feeling that 'there are people out there to get them' whereas people affected by the capgras' syndrome have no explanation as to why their close ones are being replaced by their identicals!!.. Sometimes, they feel that they themselves are being replaced by their identical..its a terrible feeling!!.. A woman affected by this syndrome claimed that she had 80 husbands and another case accused that there was her identical trying to get her husband!!..There are many more cases..Besides people, the victims feel sometimes their pets and possessions are also being replaced by their identicals..blimey!.. There's no clue as to what causes this disease..and there are evidences of schizophrenic traces in people affected by this disease..In some cases, brain damage has led to this disease.. So, do u people know anyone who is affected by this disease!!..Or do you have any more information or evidence regardng this??..I would like to know more about this!!
3 responses
@cultoffury (1283)
• India
27 Feb 07
That is really disappointing. What did you exactly meant by "being replaced by identical?". Anyway it really looks awkward. There is no one as far as I know who is affected by this. But, the post makes nice reading. Keep posting such informative discussions.
• India
1 Mar 07
being replaced by identical means ..having the feeling that someone else who looks similar replaces the original..for example..u've da feeling that ur bro is not anymore ur bro..someoneelse who looks like ur bro instead has taken his place...its a sick feeling..i tried imagining...ya..am actually trying to learn more abt these unique disorders.. they dont get responses..but i still enjoy posting them!!
@nitsy_s (1028)
• India
26 Feb 07
That is so terrible. I dint even know that such things exists. Cant imagine what goes through someone who is suffering from it.
• India
26 Feb 07
ya..i just imagined having an impotor in the family..it was a terrible thought!
@jmichael (35)
• United States
25 Feb 07
As a counseling psychologist, I don't recall having seen this disorder listed in the DSM-IV TR That is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Third Revision... However, what you describe would clearly fall under the heading of a dissociative disorder. From your dialect, I am guessing that you are in the United Kingdom, Perhaps London... And perhaps a clinician also? I would like very much to discuss this with you further via email... If you get this, please email me at my private email jmichael@icqmail.com Hope you have a wonderful day!
• India
25 Feb 07
i've already mailed ur regarding this...n am surprised there's no mention about this in the DSM-IV TR... !!