The Capgras Syndrome and Its Psychopathology
B. FRANK VOGEL M.D.
Five case reports indicate that the Capgras syndrome, a condition in which the patient believes that a person closely related to him is actually an impostor, is far less rare than has been commonly accepted. The author discusses the psychodynamics, suggests that the syndrome itself is a massive defense system against disintegrative intrapsychic conflicts, and examines the clear-cut ego defense mechanisms employed.
