Cotard's syndrome symptoms

What are the symptoms of Cotard's syndrome? It's a mental illness in which the individual believes they're dead; in some cases, they're deeply convinced their body has lost organs or even blood.

Also known as "dead man syndrome," among the various obsessions that characterize this mental illness, a particularly pronounced one is the smell of their own flesh, which, from the psychiatric patient's perspective, is in an advanced state of decomposition. Indeed, it emits a specific odor, that of flesh in an advanced state of putrefaction.

Is this a stand-alone mental illness, or can it be accompanied by other mental illnesses? Generally speaking, it can often be accompanied by other mental illnesses and can also be the result of trauma or tumors.

In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, it has been included in the category of somatic-derived delusions. Is this a rare or widespread form? Generally speaking, we can talk about a rather rare disease that triggers a deep and rooted belief in the affected individual.

His earthly existence has ceased, and as a result, his body and flesh are in a state of decomposition and putrefaction. The belief that he has lost some of his organs, including his blood, is another of the mental obsessions he suffers from.

Historical background and first clinical descriptions

The disease was discovered and first described by a French neurologist named Jules Cotard at the end of the nineteenth century.

The opportunity to analyze this disease and attempt to define it

Early evolution and progressive clinical stages of the disorder

arose following the case of a French woman who declared she was incapable of dying a natural death. In her view, she had been condemned to a state of eternal damnation.

For this reason, in her opinion, some of her internal organs were no longer present in her body, and as a result, she no longer felt the urge to hunger and no longer had the need to eat.

Clinical features and distinctive aspects of Cotard's syndrome

This syndrome, also known as "walking corpse syndrome," is a rather rare mental illness. The sufferer is firmly convinced that he or she is no longer alive and, therefore, that some of the essential organs for survival are missing.

In the most severe and severe cases of this psychiatric disorder, the sufferer is firmly convinced that his or her flesh emits a "smell of death," the classic odor associated with the state of decomposition and putrefaction.

Does this illness appear suddenly, accompanied by all the patient's mental obsessions, or does it develop gradually? To be more clear, it's helpful to discuss the stages of the illness. Let's look at what they are:

In the first phase of the illness, the sufferer presents with a depressive syndrome related to hypochondria.

In the second phase, the sufferer begins to firmly deny his or her existence, in the insane belief that he or she is dead. It is precisely in this sense that he is convinced that he has lost his internal organs along with his blood.

In the third phase, the disease evolves and becomes chronic. The patient suffering from these marked hallucinations is no longer able to identify the reality surrounding them and can no longer find meaning in it.

In this form, the patient may also become convinced that family members, relatives, and all the people dear to them and involved in their emotional life are also deceased.

Is this a psychiatric syndrome that manifests itself alone, or can it be accompanied by other psychiatric disorders?

Cotard's syndrome is very often related to the Capgras delusion, in which another delusional belief takes shape in the subject's mind: relatives, friends, and family have been replaced by strangers, impostors. This distortion of memory and belief is also discussed in our article on confabulation.

Does the syndrome manifest only with delusional states and hallucinations?

No, in addition to experiencing rather marked hallucinations, patients affected by it may experience two specific symptoms. Let's see what they are:

The affected individual may experience severe anxiety;

The affected individual may have a rather pronounced sense of guilt.

Associated psychiatric and neurological conditions

Do people who suffer from the symptoms of Cotard's syndrome also have other psychological problems? Could they suffer from other mental health conditions? Yes, let's take a closer look at the additional psychiatric problems of a patient with this mental illness:

The individual may suffer from a form of schizophrenia;

The individual may suffer from bipolar disorder;

The individual may suffer from a form of depression following childbirth;

It could be the consequence of neurological conditions such as epilepsy;

The individual may suffer from a form of dementia;

It could be the result of trauma;

It could be a mental disorder related to a tumor;

It could be a mental condition that manifests following a brain infection.

Are there any important specifics related to the onset of this syndrome? Yes, the history of the disorder and its development clearly indicate that it tends to develop more frequently in individuals with a lesion located in the parietal lobe.

Impact of the disorder on daily and social life

Clearly, those suffering from this condition tend to isolate themselves from society and neglect their personal care. The firm belief that they are dead leads them to neglect daily aspects of life, such as eating and bathing.

This belief leads them to frequent cemeteries. Being firmly convinced that they are dead, they believe they are immortal and may therefore attempt suicide to prove their condition is true. For this reason, they must be carefully monitored.

To treat this syndrome, a combination of antidepressant medications is used, which stabilize mood in conjunction with psychotherapy.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cotard's Syndrome