What’s Common Between Nihilism And Cotard’s Syndrome?

Person with this syndrome may also possess some nihilistic thoughts that make them question their existence.

Cotard’s syndrome is a type of rare and severe mental health disorder where a person believes that their body parts are missing or they are dead or dying. They can also think that nothing exists. Person with this syndrome may also possess some nihilistic thoughts that make them question their existence. As the name suggests, Cotard’s syndrome originated on the name of the French neurologist Jules Cotard.

Let’s look at the symptoms of the Cotard’s Syndrome.

Symptoms

Nihilism

This is considered as one of the main symptoms of the Cotard’s syndrome where the person begins to feel there is no point in living. Nihilism is a belief that considers nothing has value or meaning and nothing really exists. People with Cotard’s Syndrome believe that they have never existed or are rotting away.

Depression

Depression is quite often linked to Cotard’s syndrome because of the thoughts evoked in the mind of the patient is closely connected to depression.

According to a 2011 review of existing research about Cotard delusion, 89% of cases had the symptoms of depression.

Other symptoms

There are other some common symptoms of the Cotard’s syndrome like severe anxiety, delusions of negation (believing they are non-existent), and somatic delusions (believing their body parts are missing or decaying).

What can be the causes of this syndrome?

Although, the exact cause of the Cotard’s syndrome is still unclear but the some ideas hovering around it have got some relevance. It is often associated with underlying psychiatric conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder. Neurological factors and brain lesions have also been proposed as potential causes. Many studies suggest that the average age of people with this syndrome can be around 50. But it can also occur in children and teenagers. People under 25 with this syndrome can also have bipolar depression. Furthermore, people having bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, catatonia, depersonalization disorder, dissociative disorder, psychotic depression and schizophrenia might have more chances of developing Cotard’s syndrome.

What can be the diagnosis?

Diagnosis typically involves psychiatric evaluation and may require neuroimaging to rule out neurological disorders. It is not so easy to diagnose the Cotard’s syndrome as it is still not recognized as a disease.

Review of the treatment

Cotard Syndrome is challenging to treat, but therapy approaches, including psychotherapy and medication (such as antidepressants or antipsychotics), may be employed to address underlying psychiatric conditions and alleviate symptoms. Electroconvulsive therapy is one of the most commonly used treatments, this involves passing small electric currents through your brain to create small seizures while keeping the patient under anesthesia.

Prognosis

The prognosis varies depending on the underlying cause and the individual’s response to treatment. Early intervention and appropriate care are crucial for improving outcomes.

Cotard Syndrome is considered extremely rare, and only a limited number of cases have been documented in medical literature. Hence, it is not even considered a disease by many medical care institutions. But this is considered a serious mental illness and should be addressed. If someone thinks that they have this syndrome then they should consider talking an expert who can help in finding the solution.