This Rare Disease Makes People Think They're Dead

Known as cotard syndrome, or “The Living Dead Syndrome”, this is a very rare mental illness that causes a feeling of death. Check now for more details about this condition.

Read more: Takotsubo syndrome: know the disease that resembles a heart attack

see more

These are the 4 zodiac signs that love solitude the most, according to…

There are some dog breeds considered perfect for people…

Record of Cotard's first case

Although considered rare, Cotard's syndrome has been the subject of several scientific studies over the years. The first known case, dating from 1880, was of a patient who believed he had no more organs, just skin and bones. With that, he thought he no longer needed to eat and kept losing weight until he actually died.

In scientific articles on the disorder, a significant proportion of patients have a history of antidepressant use and report feelings of hopelessness, low energy and loss of appetite.

In 2013, the New Scientist portal published an interview with a patient who, after electrocuting himself in the shower, became convinced that he no longer had a brain and attempted suicide. The patient reported that he lost his sense of smell and taste at the time.

An important point that the scientists noticed in the study based on imaging tests is that the brain activity of people with Cotard syndrome has many similarities with that of a vegetative person. Therefore, the researchers' theory is that these changes are responsible for the feeling of death.

Main symptoms of Cotard syndrome

Some symptoms that help identify this disease are:

  • The feeling that comes from thinking you are dead;
  • Show anxiety routinely;
  • Feeling that the body's organs are corroding;
  • Social isolation;
  • Feeling that he is already lifeless and that they cannot kill him;
  • Become a negative person;
  • Having insensitivity to pain;
  • Suffer from many hallucinations;
  • Possibility of becoming suicidal.

In addition to these signs, people with this syndrome may also report that they smell rotten meat coming out of their bodies because they think their organs are rotting away. In some cases, patients may also not be able to recognize themselves in the mirror or even not recognize family members and friends.

Microsoft enables running Android apps on PC; understand

Microsoft enables running Android apps on PC; understand

Apparently, the Microsoft moved forward in the pursuit of allowing users to install apps android ...

read more
'Don't Fire' Poster at McDonald's Sparks Intense Discussion; understand

'Don't Fire' Poster at McDonald's Sparks Intense Discussion; understand

Staff shortages have been a significant challenge for the restaurant industry, including fast foo...

read more

Alagoas wins the first professional master's degree in Special Education

Contribute to the development of technological and pedagogical innovations and proposed inclusion...

read more