Discussion: Walking Corpse Syndrome, Cotard Syndrome, is a rare condition and its exact prevalence is unknown but was first described by Dr. Jules Cotard in 1882. Cotard’s syndrome is a delusional disorder in which one believes that he or she is dead or has lost organs, blood, or body parts to insisting that one has lost one’s soul (Ruminjo & Mekinulov, 2008). The patient does not eat or focus on personal hygiene because the patient considers him/herself dead. This causes self-destruction by self-starvation leading to various nutritional and electrolyte imbalances (Susmitha, Selvakumar, & Sriram, 2016). Walking corpse syndrome is often seen in coexistence with other psychological disturbances. Symptoms appear to vary depending on the progression of the syndrome. According to Yamada, et al. (1999), Cotard‘s delusion has three stages. The germination stage is characterized by hypochondriasis, depression and abnormal sensations. The blooming stage is characterized by delusions, negative feelings, and anxiety. The chronic stage characterized by mood swings and systemization of delusions (Susmitha, Selvakumar, & Sriram, 2016).
Conclusions: Cotard’s Syndrome is a rare delusional disorder. It should be considered when patients exhibit characteristic features without medical causes. ECT is the choice of treatment for Cotard‘s delusion. Antidepressants and/or antipsychotics have shown positive results in the treatment of Cotard‘s syndrome as well.
References:
Ruminjo, A. & Mekinulov, B. (2008). A case report of Cotard’s Syndrome. Psychiatry, 5(6), 28-29. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2695744
Susmitha, A, Selvakumar, S., & Sriram, N. (2016) Walking corpse syndrome: A delusion of being dead. International Journal of Allied Medical Sciences and Clinical Research, 4(1), 70-74.
Yamada K, Katsuragi S, & Fujii I. (1999). A case study of Cotard’s syndrome: stages and diagnosis. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 100(5), 396-399.