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Fregoli syndrome

Kacper Miętkiewicz1, Katarzyna Litwin1, Kamil Leis1, Dominika Gapska1, Tomasz Aleksiewicz1, Przemysław Gałązka2
Affiliacja i adres do korespondencji
Psychiatr Psychol Klin 2018, 18 (3), p. 325–329
DOI: 10.15557/PiPK.2018.0041
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Streszczenie

The first information on the Fregoli syndrome (delusion) was presented in 1927 by Courbon and Fail. This entity is a part of a wider range of delusional misidentification syndromes. The feature which distinguishes the Fregoli syndrome is the patient’s conviction that some persons known to them constantly change their appearance while retaining their existing psychological characteristics. Delusions of persecution are also present. Researchers classify this disorder in many ways, there are also various hypotheses about its development. There are reasons to believe that this condition often develops in paranoid schizophrenia, following head injuries and in dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The list of medical conditions involving the Fregoli syndrome is significantly longer, however. Considering the small amount of epidemiological data, it can be inferred that the disorder occurs very rarely. There is little available information both on the Fregoli syndrome and on the whole group of delusional misidentification syndromes. Taking into consideration the patient’s age and comorbidity allows to distinguish the disorder from other disease entities belonging to the group mentioned above. Researchers distinguish two main pathophysiological hypotheses: an organic and a psychodynamic one. A wide range of symptoms characterise the disorder, which may be connected with the presence of other diseases. In the diagnosis of the disease entity, the following imaging techniques are used: computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, single-proton emission computed tomography, positron emission tomography, electroencephalography and echoencephalography. The therapy frequently consists in treating the primary cause as a result of which Fregoli syndrome secondarily appeared. Neuroleptics are mainly used, but other groups of medication are also prescribed. Apart from pharmacological treatment, electroconvulsive therapy, psychotherapy and sociotherapy are used as well.

Słowa kluczowe
Fregoli syndrome (delusion), delusional misidentification syndrome, Capgras delusion, paranoid schizophrenia