Capgras Delusion

[Abiloum]

Hi my husband collapsed a year ago next week. Was in a coma for six months and is now in rehab. He has woken and though cognitively slow is making good progress but has developed Capgras Syndrome. Has anyone any experience of this? Six months and he recognises. Everyone but me. It’s heartbreaking and clearly rare as not even his team have answers for if or when he will recover and know me. Anyone have any advice? Experience. Is really appreciate it

[cat3]

I've been reading about it, and it's a fascinating condition for an outsider, but I can only imagine the heartache it causes for you as a wife. Ironically it always affects people closest and most valued by the sufferer. So though your husband recognises you as his wife, the damaged pathways between his visual cortex and his amygdala, where feelings are created, mean the amygdala is inaccessible.

He sees that you're identical to his wife but obviously some sort of replica because the usual feelings of closeness and warmth we feel towards loved ones can't be accessed owing to the 'blockage' in his brain.

But the pathway from the auditory cortex to the amygdala, is situated elsewhere and, if undamaged, will allow natural emotional response, so talking on the telephone can allow a normal degree of recognition and closeness.

I understand this can be tested by a method similar to lie detecting where the patient has sensors attached to the palms and is shown a screen with the faces of people of various levels of intimacy/familiarity to measure emotional responses.

I wish you all the very best in coping with this Abiloum. It's possible your man's brain will rewire to the point where new pathways can restore some trust and closeness ; I sincerely hope so. Hoping there'll be better days ahead ……… Cat x

[Abiloum in reply to cat3]

Thanks Cat there seems to be so little info out there beyond the sensational. Appreciate your thoughtful response.