Mirror self-misrecognition in dementia: caring about the person’s identity

Stephan Eyer, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Centre Hospitalier du Valais Romand, Sierre; Memory Clinic, Centre Hospitalier du Valais Romand, Sierre; Clinical Ethics Committee, Hôpital du Valais, Sion

Abstract
Objectives and Design – This case report describes the disturbing symptom of mirror self-misperception, a delusion known as Capgras syndrome.
Setting and Participant – A video recording captures the confusion of a demented patient who does not recognize himself in his reflected image, and instead perceives that he is looking at an identical “twin brother”.
Results – It shows the delusion of misperception both in interpretation of the reflected image (mirror agnosia), and in self-recognition (autoprosopagnosia).
Conclusions and Implications - Self-misperception raises questions of how to maintain a sense of personal identity during care-giving. A person-centered and touch-based approach not only provides reassurance, but also can help preserve individual integrity and identity.

Keywords
Self-misrecognition, Capgras delusion, mirror behaviors

Cite this paper
Stephan Eyer, Mirror self-misrecognition in dementia: caring about the person’s identity , SCIREA Journal of Clinical Medicine. Volume 6, Issue 4, August 2021 | PP. 269-273. 10.54647/cm32550

References

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