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Delusional misidentification syndromes in a woman with mild learning disabilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Sally-Ann Cooper  and
Richard A Collacott
Sally-Ann Cooper
Affiliation:
Rockingham Forest NHS Trust, Learning Disabilities, St Mary's Hospital, Kettering, Northants. NN15 7PW, England
Richard A Collacott
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Leicester, England
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Abstract

Schizophrenia is thought to be the commonest setting in which delusional misidentification syndromes occur. Although schizophrenia is said to occur more commonly in people with learning disabilities, when compared to the general population, reports of delusional misidentification syndromes are extremely limited. The case of a 31 year old woman with mild learning disabilities and first episode of acute schizophrenia is described. She had both Capgras and Fregoli syndromes, and a rare variant of Capgras syndrome in which the misidentification was of a cat, rather than a significant person in her life. Aetiological factors are discussed.

Keywords

Mental retardationSchizophreniaDelusional misidentification syndromes
Type
Case Reports
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , June 1996 , pp. 70 - 72
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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