The Capgras Syndrome: Two Case Reports and a Review

Abstract

The Capgras syndrome is reviewed and two case reports are described. While the Capgras syndrome is frequently considered to be a rather rare psychiatric syndrome, the author questions this and feels that the syndrome is more common than previously thought. Original explanations of this syndrome usually involved dynamic interpretations, but recently there have been many reports to suggest an organic lesion as being the main contributing factor. The mechanism involved seems to be a generalized dysfunction of the non-dominant cerebral hemisphere. It is suggested that any patient presenting with this syndrome be thoroughly evaluated for an underlying organic lesion before dynamic interpretations are used to explain this syndrome. Brief mention is made of two other syndromes which also involve misidentification and are also considered to be organic in origin.