Fregoli Syndrome is a psychological disorder that leads people to believe that people around them are able to disguise themselves by changing their appearance, clothing or gender to impersonate others. For example, a patient with Fregoli Syndrome may believe that his doctor is actually one of his masked family members who tries to chase him.
The most frequent causes of this syndrome are psychiatric problems, such as schizophrenia, neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, or brain injuries caused by strokes, for example.
In some cases, Fregoli Syndrome may be mistaken for Capgras Syndrome due to the similarity of symptoms.
Symptoms of Fregoli Syndrome
The main symptom of Fregoli Syndrome is the fact that the patient believes in changing the appearance of the individuals around him. However, other symptoms may be:
- Hallucinations and delusions;
- Decreased visual memory;
- Inability to control behavior;
- Episodes of epilepsy or seizures
In the presence of these symptoms, the family members should take the individual to an appointment with the psychologist or psychiatrist, so that the physician can indicate the appropriate treatment.
The diagnosis of Fregoli Syndrome is usually made by a psychologist or psychiatrist after observing the patient's behavior and the reports of family and friends.
Treatment for Fregoli Syndrome
Treatment for Fregoli Syndrome can be done at home with a combination of oral antipsychotic medicines such as Thioridazine or Tiaprida and antidepressant medicines such as Fluoxetine or Venlafaxine.
In addition, in cases of patients with seizures, the psychiatrist may also prescribe the use of antiepileptic drugs, such as Gabapentin or Carbamazepine.
