In this Psychology-Online article you will find a rare syndrome which can affect 0.12% of the general population, it is Fregoli syndrome. This alteration is one of the four basic pathological subtypes that make up Delusional False Identification Syndrome (SFID). His name originates from the famous actor Leopoldo Fregoli, as a result of the ability he had to change his appearance during his performances.
After a detailed search we found that it is not a syndrome widely studied by experts, since there are not many clinical cases recorded that facilitate its understanding and study. Below you will find the symptoms, causes, treatment and real cases of Fregoli syndrome.
Symptoms of Fregoli syndrome
The person who suffers from this syndrome believes that several unknown subjects are actually one that changes appearance constantly. That is why, on many occasions, they tend to “recognize” strangers as people belonging to their own family, even if they do not have any traits in common.
The characteristic symptoms of this particular syndrome are:
- They show a altered interpretation of reality (hallucinations).
- They think their relatives dress up with the sole objective of pursuing them. This is known by specialists as delusions of persecution.
- They have a deficits in certain cognitive functions and executives.
- The patient presents anosognosiathat is, he is not aware of his illness.
This pathology can give rise to violent behavior, negative responses, anxiety, fear or insecurity since the person feels constantly watched and persecuted.
Causes of Fregoli syndrome
To explain the causes of said syndrome, reference must be made to the Delusional False Identification Syndrome in itself, since it is a variant of this, it is necessary to explain the way in which it can originate from it. This syndrome has been associated with a series of psychiatric conditions, organic and neurological diseases.
According to Mesa (2008), after studying a practical case, this syndrome is considered a psychopathological phenomenon which can originate from various etiologies, among them the following stand out:neurological and psychiatric disorders such as , paraphrenia (psychosis characterized by hallucinations and delusions of an absurd nature), involutive melancholy (depressive state) and dissociative confusional states.
Regarding organic causes, an association has been seen between the Fregoli illusion and diseases such as , , cranial brain trauma, cerebrovascular diseases, dementia in Lewy bodies and .
Signer (1994) was able to find how, as a result of brain injuries in the right fronto-parietal and orbitofrontal areas, it could lead to Fregoli Syndrome.
Broadly speaking, it is indicated that the patient’s brain is injured and that is why it is hyperactivated, making it work faster. As a result of this hyperactivity, a familiarity is created for the person in those situations in which it should not exist. The patient tends to confuse completely strangers with acquaintances despite recognizing that they have no physical similarity.
Fregoli syndrome treatment
Again, to give an adequate answer to this section, we must go to the “origin” of Fregoli syndrome and to do so, also to the origin of SFID.
Since, as indicated above, there are not a large number of case studies for this syndrome, it has not been possible to establish a specific treatment to achieve remission of the syndrome. However, it has been possible to verify in some of them that the SFID, remits once the disease with which it is associated is resolved or at least controlled.
Normally, in all recorded cases of this disease, a Pharmacotherapy to reduce your symptoms. Therefore, it is recommended to see a specialist early, who can indicate the most appropriate treatment to the patient.
Real cases of Fregoli syndrome
Below are some real case studies. They will describe the diseases to which the syndrome is associated, the symptoms that patients develop and the treatments used.
Real case 1: woman with PTSD
Woman (56 years old) diagnosed with a syndrome due to which she develops a depressive condition. During treatment she presents a delusional false identification, in which replaces complete strangers with a close relative, including among the unknown the psychiatrist himself. He does not present any neurological alteration. As treatment, an antipsychotic is prescribed, which makes the symptoms of SFID disappear. (Table, 2008).
Real case 2: woman with schizophrenia
Woman (35 years old) with a psychiatric history since she was 16, specifically diagnosed with . It was learned that 6 weeks before the development of the syndrome she stopped taking the medication prescribed by the doctors. The patient He claimed that complete strangers were his relatives.Specifically, she used to identify them as Erik Estrada, a famous actor with whom she was in love. An excess of irregular and rhythmic activity was observed in the postcentral regions of the brain. She was given fluphenazine (antipsychotic) treatment which improved her mental status. (Wright, 1993).
Real case 3: man with brain injury
Man (61 years old) suffers from Fregoli syndrome as a result of a traumatic brain injury. After his diagnosis, the doctors saw that the right frontal temporaroparietal regions were affected. The treatment of this case is not known, since the author’s objective was to determine if memory could explain the error at the time of identify strangers as family. (Feinberg (1999).
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Fregoli syndrome: symptoms, causes, treatment and real caseswe recommend that you enter our category.
Bibliography
- Feinberg, TE, Eaton, LA, Roane, DM, & Giacino, JT (1999). Multiple Fregoli delusions after traumatic brain injury. Cortex, 35(3), 373-387.
- Mesa Rodríguez, TE (2008). Frégoli syndrome: About a case.
- Signer SF. Localization and lateralization in the delusion of substitution. Capgras syndrome and its variants. Psychopathology. 1994; 27: 168 – 176.
- Silva, J. A., & Leong, G. B. (1991). A case of” subjective” Frégoli syndrome. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 16(2), 103.
- Toledo, Á. M. False ideations in dementia: content and characteristics of delusional phenomena.
- Vázquez, MS (2002). Identification delusions. Capgras syndrome: about a case. Galician Journal of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, 1(5), 70-79.
- Wright, S., Young, A.W., & Hellawell, D.J. (1993). Frégoli delusion and erotomania. Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry, 56(3), 322.