Abstract
Delusional misidentification syndromes (DMS) have been rarely reported in patients with conditions other than schizophrenia-related
disorders, diffuse brain disease (dementia) and focal neurological illness. In this report, we describe DMS (i.e. Capgras
and Fregoli syndromes) in two patients with severe and treatment resistant obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), one with paranoid
personality disorder (PPD) and the other with a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) not otherwise specified. While our
findings highlight an interesting phenomenon (the occurrence of DMS in OCD), it is presently unclear whether this association
is rare or underreported. Misidentification syndromes might be the ultimate result of a combination of obsessive fears and
preexisting cognitive bias/deficits, such as mistrustfulness (in PPD) or poor theory of mind (in PDD).
disorders, diffuse brain disease (dementia) and focal neurological illness. In this report, we describe DMS (i.e. Capgras
and Fregoli syndromes) in two patients with severe and treatment resistant obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), one with paranoid
personality disorder (PPD) and the other with a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) not otherwise specified. While our
findings highlight an interesting phenomenon (the occurrence of DMS in OCD), it is presently unclear whether this association
is rare or underreported. Misidentification syndromes might be the ultimate result of a combination of obsessive fears and
preexisting cognitive bias/deficits, such as mistrustfulness (in PPD) or poor theory of mind (in PDD).
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s11126-012-9237-z
- Authors
- Isabela A. Melca, Anxiety and Depression Research Program, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Visconde de Pirajá, 547, Sala 719, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, 22410-003 Brazil
- Clarissa L. Rodrigues, Anxiety and Depression Research Program, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Visconde de Pirajá, 547, Sala 719, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, 22410-003 Brazil
- Maria A. Serra-Pinheiro, Anxiety and Depression Research Program, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Visconde de Pirajá, 547, Sala 719, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, 22410-003 Brazil
- Christos Pantelis, Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Dennis Velakoulis, Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Mauro V. Mendlowicz, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Institute of Community Health, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil
- Leonardo F. Fontenelle, Anxiety and Depression Research Program, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Visconde de Pirajá, 547, Sala 719, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, 22410-003 Brazil
- Journal Psychiatric Quarterly
- Online ISSN 1573-6709
- Print ISSN 0033-2720