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The stranger in our self — On the Capgras syndrome
The syndrome of Capgras or the Delusional Misidentification Syndromes (DMS) are submitted to an analysis that shows us another aspect of this psychotic structure. Recent articles account this syndrome brain injury. This is true in 40% of the cases; the other 60% is supposed to be also organic. This is a mental error. In this article we are interested in these 60% of cases where we are looking for a psychological background. With the help of a case of the syndrome of Capgras within a patient who sees doubles in other persons, we give a freudo-lacanian interpretation of this phenomenon. Splitting of the Ego and symbolization of objects and the own body plays an important component in this theoretical background. The patient in this article is affected by the Capgras syndrome which is accompanied by enhanced responsiveness to the Imaginary, which in turn is associated with an absence of transition to the Symbolic. This constellation opens the door to a redoubling of perception, as is seen in the perception of the double.