Rare Psychological Diagnoses: The Cotard Delusion

The Cotard Delusion, sometimes referred to as Cotard Syndrome or even Walking Corpse Syndrome, is a rare condition in which sufferers believe they are putrefying, have lost internal organs, have lost blood, do not exist, or are dead.

These Cotard Delusions are referred to as delusions of negation.

The condition was described in 1880 by psychiatrist and neurologist, Jules Cotard.

Like The Capgras Delusion, The Cotard Delusion is thought to result from problems occurring with communication between the temporal cortex and the amygdala.

The Cotard Delusion tends to occur in conjunction with other mental health difficulties such as Schizophrenia and clinical depression.

The Cotard Delusion has sometimes been successfully treated with psychotropic medications.