Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Fregoli Delusion


Submitted by Grace, class of 2012:

Imagine going into work one morning, and finding that all of your coworkers are actually your friend Susan in disguise. And beyond that, it soon becomes clear that all of your coworkers are attempting to get you fired, and subsequently murdered.

Have you ever had these thoughts, or thoughts similar? Fregoli delusion is a rare psychological disorder that causes a person to believe that various people around them, are instead one person who is able to change appearance, or is in disguise. The name, Fregoli, comes from the Italian actor Leopoldo Fregoli, world renown for his ability to change his appearance quickly during his stage act.

Fregoli delusion is a monothematic delusions, as it incorporates only one delusional topic. Scientifically, psychiatrists believe it is related to the failure of normal face perception. Causes include L-DOPA treatment for Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, and lesions in the fusiform gyrus (as this section of the brain processes color information and is necessary in face and body recognition). Fregoli delusion is often coupled with psychological disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

1 comment:

  1. I'm pretty sure the homeless lady who comes to our office a lot has fregoli delusion. She thinks everyone is this one guy in disguise and that he's after her. I wish she could get treatment. It must be hard thinking everyone's out to get you.

    ReplyDelete