Capgras Delusion involves believing a close family member has been replaced by an identical impostor. Which option best describes this symptom?

Capgras Delusion involves believing a close family member has been replaced by an identical impostor. Which option best describes this symptom?

• A. A Delusion That A Close Family Member Has Been Replaced By An Identical Impostor
• B. A Delusion That One's Thoughts Are Being Read
• C. A Belief That Objects Have Been Replaced
• D. A Delusion Of Infidelity

Answer: (A)

Capgras delusion is a misidentification symptom where a familiar person is believed to have been replaced by an identical impostor. The key feature is that while the person looks the same, the observer feels it isn’t really them, leading to the conviction that a close relative has been substituted. This precisely matches the idea of “a close family member has been replaced by an identical impostor.” It’s a distinct phenomenon from thoughts being read (thought broadcasting), and from believing objects are replaced, or from a delusion of infidelity. Capgras is one of the delusional misidentification syndromes, often seen in psychotic disorders or neurodegenerative conditions, and reflects a dissociation between recognition and emotional familiarity.

Capgras delusion is a misidentification symptom where a familiar person is believed to have been replaced by an identical impostor. The key feature is that while the person looks the same, the observer feels it isn’t really them, leading to the conviction that a close relative has been substituted. This precisely matches the idea of “a close family member has been replaced by an identical impostor.” It’s a distinct phenomenon from thoughts being read (thought broadcasting), and from believing objects are replaced, or from a delusion of infidelity. Capgras is one of the delusional misidentification syndromes, often seen in psychotic disorders or neurodegenerative conditions, and reflects a dissociation between recognition and emotional familiarity.