D2I2.
psychiatric

Capgras delusion

Capgras delusion or Capgras (CS) is a disorder in which a person holds a delusion that a friend, spouse, parent, other close family member, or pet has been replaced by an identical impostor. It is named after Joseph Capgras (1873–1950), the French psychiatrist who first described the disorder.

Underlined words are explained — tap any of them.

Symptoms — what it feels like

  • ·Delusion that familiar people or pets have been replaced by identical imposters; aggression with the person suspected as an imposter

Causes — why it happens

  • ·Uncertain; exacerbated by head injury

Prevention

  • ·Unknown

Treatment

  • ·No cure; therapy generally used

Complications

  • ·Violence, homicide
Plain-language summary adapted from Wikipedia. Not medical advice.