Capgras syndrome: clinical features

Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .

Capgras syndrome: clinical features. This is the delusion that a close person has been replaced by an impostor. Fully referenced neurology checklist.

Pathology

  • This is the delusion that a close person has been replaced by an impostor
  • It results from the impairment of the emotional and autonomic response to familiar faces
  • It is caused by disconnection of brain areas
  • It may be associated with other delusions
  • The subject may offer justifications for the delusion

Disconnected areas

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People frequently presumed to be replaced

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Variations of affected replaced people or places

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Associated hallucinations

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Synonyms

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References

  1. Butler C, Zeman AZJ. Neurological syndromes which may be mistaken for psychiatric conditions. JNNP 2005; 76(Suppl 1):i31-i38.
  2. Darby RR, Laganiere S, Pascual-Leone A, Prasad S, Fox MD. Finding the imposter: brain connectivity of lesions causing delusional misidentifications. Brain 2017; 140:497-507.
  3. Ellis HD, Young AW, Quayle AH, De Pauw KW. Reduced autonomic responses to faces in Capgras delusion. Proc Biol Sci 1997; 264:1085-1092.
  4. Bell V, Marshall C, Kanji Z, Wilkinson S, Halligan P, Deeley Q. Uncovering Capgras delusion using a large-scale medical records database. BJPsych Open 2017; 3:179-185. 
  5. Diard-Detoeuf C, Desmidt T, Mondon K, Graux J. A case of Capgras syndrome with one's own reflected image in a mirror. Neurocase 2016; 22:168-169.
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