Capgras syndrome, makes it difficult for you to recognize the faces of your loved ones

Capgras syndrome is a psychological disorder that makes a person feel very confident (even to the point of pointing out) that a friend, family member, or other person they actually know has been replaced by a con artist. In rare cases, a person with this syndrome does not even recognize their own reflection when they look in the mirror - believing that the reflection they see is someone else pretending to be themselves. Have you ever heard of a case like this?

What is Capgras syndrome?

Capgras syndrome sufferers experience delusions that make it wrong / unable to recognize those close to them. People who have this syndrome think that their partners, family members (siblings, siblings, and even their own parents), friends and neighbors have been replaced by different but identical figures. In some cases, people who have this syndrome may also believe that their favorite pet or inanimate object is a con artist, not a real one.

They can still recognize the faces of those closest to them. In that sense, they know that the person looks and physically looks the same as the husband / wife / siblings / friends they know well. However, he still insisted that the person was a stranger or that they were replaced by a con artist in disguise, because they did not feel any emotional closeness to that person.

The latest case of Capgras syndrome was reported in the medical journal Neurocase in 2015. A 78-year-old man in France is unable to recognize his own reflection when he looks in the bathroom. In fact, clearly this image is a reflection of himself; the same posture, the same hair, the same shape and facial characteristics, wearing the same clothes, and acting in the same way. Even so, the man felt confused because the "stranger" behaved exactly like him and knew a lot about himself after being spoken to. He even brought food to the mirror with a portion and cutlery for two people.

The name Capgras syndrome comes from the French psychiatrist Joseph Capgras, who first published his report on the disorder in 1923. Capgras syndrome is also known as "imposter syndrome" or "Capgras delusion." This syndrome is quite rare, but is more common in women.

What causes Capgras syndrome?

The exact cause of Capgras syndrome is unknown, but there are several theories as to why this psychological disorder can occur. One theory suggests that capras delusions may be caused by a disconnection between the visual brain region and the brain region that processes facial recognition reactions. The severity of this area can result from a post-traumatic brain injury (especially on the right side of the brain), after a stroke, or from overuse of drugs, which can prevent a person from identifying someone they know.

This condition is similar to another condition called prospagnosia aka face blindness, which is both unable to recognize the faces of those closest to you. However, people with face blindness still experience emotional reactions to these strange faces. That is, even though they feel strange with these faces, they know that they know those people. What happens in Capgras syndrome is just the opposite. People with this syndrome recognize faces, but feel strange and believe that the person is really a stranger because they do not experience emotional reactions (such as affection for siblings or parents, or love for their partner).

A study in 2015 showed that cases of Capgras syndrome were related to hypothyroidism. In addition, some other patients also have certain conditions such as epilepsy or Alzheimer's, which can interfere with brain function.

What are the symptoms of Capgras syndrome?

People with this syndrome are often misunderstood as having a schizophrenic mental disorder, or what is often called “crazy”. Even so, schizophrenia can trigger this syndrome because schizophrenia can cause delusions or delusions.

Capgras syndrome is not a psychiatric disease, but a neurological disorder. People who have this syndrome can still move and behave normally like other people in general, except when meeting people who they consider to be con artists (even though they actually know them closely).

When interacting with these "strangers", they will act strange, restless, afraid, embarrassed, seem distant, anxious as if they were dealing with real strangers.

In some cases, people with Capgras syndrome can be rude to people they think are cheaters. Women who suffer from this syndrome may even refuse to have sex with their partner and ask to separate, because they are afraid and are sure that the person is not their legal boyfriend or husband.

How to treat Capgras syndrome?

There is no specific treatment for Capgras syndrome. Treatment that may be done is to treat the underlying conditions. If your Capgras syndrome is known to be caused by schizophrenia, then schizophrenia is the one to treat. If it is caused by a head injury, then surgery may be performed to repair the damaged brain tissue.

Until now, the best treatment for people with Capgras syndrome is psychotherapy. However, it takes persistence in building empathy for sufferers without fighting their wrong assumptions. In some cases, prescription antipsychotic medication can treat the symptoms of delusions while anti-anxiety medications can relieve the anxiety and nervousness that comes with living with "strangers" around them.

How to treat people with Capgras syndrome?

• Be patient and sympathetic to the sufferer. This syndrome creates fear and anxiety in the sufferer
• Don't argue with the sufferer or don't try to improve the sufferer's perception.
• Acknowledge what the sufferer feels
• Do things that make the sufferer feel safe. Give sentences that state that the sufferer is safe with you. Also ask sufferers what they want, if you are still confused about how to handle it.
• If possible, ask the "stranger" not to be around the sufferer for a while.
• Use voice to communicate. Even if they can't recognize you, they may still be able to recognize the distinctive voice of you and those closest to them.