pathoscribe

Written by Anoushka Pandya | Art by Srivalli Adarapu

Do you ever think your friends are delusional over someone they like just existing? Funnily enough, there is a syndrome where a person denies the existence of themselves or others. Cotard’s delusion, or walking corpse syndrome, is an extreme neuropsychiatric condition where a person doesn’t believe they exist, denies the existence of their body parts, or believes that their loved ones are dead. It is rare, with only 200 documented cases worldwide. In 1880, Cotard first described a middle-aged female who denied the existence of her body parts as a case of “delire hypochondriaque.” Emil Regis coined the term “Cotard’s syndrome” in 1893 and suggested that this behavior links to various psychological disorders. Cotard’s syndrome was later named “Cotard’s delusion.” 

There is no identified cause for Cotard’s delusion. It is known to be related to a variety of factors that include but are not limited to age, sex, mental health status, and the presence of neurological conditions. Those who are above the age of 50 are more prone to Cotard’s delusion, as are women. People with depression, bipolar disorder, depersonalization disorder, or other mental health conditions are also more susceptible to this syndrome. People with brain tumors, dementia, headaches, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and other neurological conditions are also more likely to suffer from Cotard’s syndrome. 

The symptoms of Cotard’s delusion include antisocial or depressive behavior, beliefs of death, nutritional issues (the person believes they are dead and therefore they have no desire to eat), and nihilism, or the belief that nothing has any value and that there is no meaning to life. The following is a summary of a case study of a patient with Cotard’s delusion: A man of 65 years developed delusions of nihilism and believed the world would end. He was convinced his organs were not working and that he was already dead. He attempted suicide multiple times: In his suicide note, he wrote that he wanted to kill himself to save villagers from a “deadly cancerous infection” he believed he had. He was brought to a mental hospital and was found to have severe depression. He was treated with ECT (electro-convulsive treatment) and his symptoms declined. He was later discharged. 

The man was treated with ECT, the most common treatment for those with Cotard’s delusion. ECT passes electrical currents towards the brain and is additionally used to treat severe cases of depression. It is used only after careful deliberation because it can threaten the body and may result in memory loss.

As absurd as Cotard’s delusion sounds, it is a real condition people may suffer from. It is important to be aware of its extreme symptoms and characteristics to raise awareness and create a safe environment where we can be accepting of all people. We should not treat people like outsiders if they suffer from Cotard’s delusion and should empathize with their experiences. 

Works Cited:

Grover, Sandeep et al. “Cotard’s syndrome: Two case reports and a brief review of literature.” Journal of neurosciences in rural practice vol. 5,Suppl 1 (2014): S59-62. doi:10.4103/0976-3147.145206