Capgras Syndrome

DOUGH GOOD
Dec 29, 2025
2 min read

Capgras syndrome is a psychological condition faced by 3 out of 2,000 psychiatric patients. It is classified as a type of delusional misidentification syndrome, and those with Capgras syndrome typically believe that an imposter is replacing a family member or close friend. Typically, that person is their primary caretaker.

Symptoms of Capgras Syndrome

There are numerous symptoms of Capgras syndrome; most are triggered by seeing the person believed to be replaced by an imposter. Some include:

Becoming angry, agitated, or upset
Saying the imposter invokes a negative emotion, like anxiety or fear
Refusing to talk to them or others while they are present
Becoming focused on exposing the imposter
Showing aggressive behavior, threatening/attempting to physically attack the imposter
Refusing to believe evidence that the family member or friend is not an imposter

Causes of Capgras Syndrome

There is no known cause of Capgras syndrome, although there are some potential causes.

Disconnect between temporal lobe (manages facial recognition) & amygdala (processes immediate emotional recognition response)
Traumatic brain injury, damaging temporal cortex/amygdala
Mental health conditions
- Schizophreniform disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
Neurodegenerative diseases
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Dementia
- Lewy body dementia
- Advanced Parkinson’s disease
Other central nervous system conditions
- Epilepsy
- Cerebrovascular accidents
- Infectious diseases
- Exposure to toxins

Diagnosing Capgras Syndrome

The first step of diagnosis is a physical examination by a healthcare provider, as well as an examination of medical history. Then, the provider asks about conditions related to Capgras syndrome that may increase the risk. Finally, they will conduct a neurological exam and imaging tests such as CT scans and MRI.

Treatments for Capgras Syndrome

There are multiple treatments for Capgras syndrome, such as medications and psychological therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. The medication treatments for Capgras syndrome are aripiprazole, olanzapine, and quetiapine.