Individuals that are dealing with walking corpse syndrome, also called Cotard's syndrome or Cotard's delusion, think that they have missing body parts or are dying or dead. They could also think that nothing really exists.
Walking Corpse Syndrome
According to WebMD, walking corpse syndrome is rare. In fact, there are only 200 known cases all over the world.
People dealing with walking corpse syndrome end up getting less social. At times, they may completely stop speaking, while others may hear voices that tell them that they are dead or dying.
Healthline notes that one of the primary symptoms of Cotard's syndrome is nihilism, which refers to the idea that nothing is valuable or meaningful. This belief system could also cover the idea that nothing exists.
Individuals with walking corpse syndrome may feel like they are rotting away or dying. In some cases, they think that they never really lived. Others may also refuse to consume any food, as they may see no point in doing so due to their being "dead." Others, on the other hand, may try harming themselves.
Health.com adds that other delusions that patients of walking corpse syndrome reported include name or age denial, own pregnancy denial, and eating or walking capacity denial. This could even go as far as denying the existence of partners, parents, children, or the whole world.
Causes of Cotard's Delusion
The exact cause of the syndrome is still a mystery, as California-based psychiatrist Dr. Gayani De Silva explains. However, it could be a symptom of severe levels of depression. Dr. DeSilva mentions to Health.com that people who experience major depression may end up developing symptoms of psychosis, including visual or auditory hallucinations, or delusions.
WebMD adds that there are experts who think that walking corpse syndrome is a result of two kinds of brain damage. The first kind alters how they see themselves, while the second kind makes them maintain such a false way of thinking, despite being proven to be false.
Dr. Margaret Seide, a psychiatrist from New York City, adds that the main cause of the syndrome is perceived to be genetic. She adds that it could also precede schizophrenia. Cotard syndrome is also linked with certain neurological conditions, including epilepsy, dementia, and migraines.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The syndrome tends to be a symptom of another condition rather than a disease in itself, WebMD reports. It is also not included in the standard DSM that psychiatric clinicians use for diagnosing mental illnesses. Its exclusion from this manual shows that doctors do not have a firm guide to diagnosing it. WebMD notes that the syndrome tends to go undiagnosed until other possible conditions, such as Capgras syndrome, are ruled out.
When it comes to treatment, the usual approach taken by doctors is to aim at the main medical issue. Treatment for many typically involves a mix of talk therapy and medication. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) could also be of help, though this treatment option should come as a latter consideration due to the risks it brings.
RELATED ARTICLE : Could Imposter Syndrome Have an Upside? Here's What Scientists Say
Check out more news and information on Medicine and Health in Science Times.
