Capgras' Syndrome: the Illusion of Doubles

Abstract

The Capgras illusion is a rare symptom occurring in patients suffering from a psychotic illness having strong paranoid features. The patient misidentifies a close relative and believes instead that a double of the relative has been created. A brief review of the literature is given, followed by a detailed account of one unusual case recently observed by the author. The various theories concerning the ætiology of the symptom are discussed.

The Syndrome of Capgras

“…The state of mind which isprobablya prerequisite for the advent of the Capgras delusionis one of intense suspiciousness, the importance of which was initially stressed by Capgras and Reboul-Lachaux (1923) who referred to their patient's â€oe¿ paranoiac dis position―. This factor has been subsequently stressed by Bankier (1966), Enoch and Trethowan (1979) -Lachaux, 1923;Bouvier, 1926, Cases 3, 7 and 8; Ball and Kidson, 1968;Vogel, 1974, Case I;and others).…”

“…Cargnello and Della Beffa (1955) discuss the use of the terms alter for the original and al/us for the impersonating double of the original, and record the caseofa schizophrenic woman, aged32 years, who not only falsely affirmed that her mother was dead, but also that a woman, supposedly impersonating her dead mother, was a reincarnation of the latter. Capgras' syndrome has been reported in combination with the illusion of Frdgoli (Cenac-Thaly et a!, 1962;Bland, 1971)and also in association with a foliea deux psychosis (Bankier, 1966), withde Clérambault's syn drome (Sims and White, 1973), with a schizophreni form psychosis in an XYY male (Faber and Abrams, 1975), and withpseudohypoparathyroidism (Hay and Jolley, 1974). The syndrome has been reviewed in detail by Cenac-Thaly ci a!…”

The Capgras Syndrome? A Rarity

“…Bankier (1966) commented on the rarity of the Capgras Syndrome as recorded in the literature since the condition was first described by Capgras ( 1923Capgras ( , 1924. valent than has been previously thought.…”

“…We do not propose to discuss the problems of classification or aetiology as these were adequately considered by Bankier (1966), andEnoch (1963). Our purpose is to place a further case on record.…”

Comment on Wagner's Conception of Capgras' Syndrome

“…Originally reported by Capgras and Reboul-Lachaux (1 923) as "L'illusion des sosies"the illusion of doublesthe essential feature of Capgras' syndrome is a failure on the part of the patient to acknowledge a familiar person, claiming, instead, that a double has replaced the original (Todd, 1957;Enoch, 1963;Bankier, 1966). In nearly all cases that have been reported, the person is seen, but not accepted.…”