Cotard syndrome, popularly known as “walking corpse syndrome”, is a very rare psychological disorder in which a person believes that they are dead, that parts of their body have disappeared or that their organs are rotting. For this reason, this syndrome represents a high risk of self-harm or suicide.
The causes of Cotard syndrome are not known exactly, but the syndrome tends to be associated with other psychological disorders, such as personality changes, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and cases of prolonged depression.
Although this syndrome has no cure, treatment must be carried out to reduce psychological changes and improve the person’s quality of life. Therefore, treatment must be individualized and indicated by a psychiatrist.
Main symptoms
Some symptoms that help identify this disorder are:
- Believing that one is dead;
- Show anxiety frequently;
- Having a feeling that the body’s organs are rotting;
- Feeling that you cannot die, because you have already died;
- Moving away from your group of friends and family;
- Being a very negative person;
- Have insensitivity to pain;
- Suffer constant hallucinations;
- Having a suicidal tendency.
In addition to these signs, those suffering from this syndrome may also report that they smell the smell of rotting meat coming from their body, due to the idea that their organs are rotting. In some cases, patients may also not recognize themselves in the mirror, nor be able to identify family or friends, for example.
How the treatment is carried out
The treatment of Cotard syndrome can vary greatly from one person to another, as it is usually necessary to treat the psychological problem that is the basis for the appearance of the syndrome’s symptoms.
However, most of the time, treatment involves cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy sessions, in addition to using some medications such as antipsychotics, antidepressants and/or anxiolytics. It is also very important that the person is monitored regularly, due to the risk of self-harm and suicide.
In more serious cases, such as psychotic depression or melancholia, the doctor may also recommend electroconvulsive therapy sessions, which consist of applying electric shocks to the brain to stimulate certain regions and more easily control the symptoms of the syndrome. After these sessions, treatment with medication and psychotherapy is usually also carried out.
