Intermetamorphosis

Intermetamorphosis (pronunciation: /ˌɪntərˌmɛtəˈmɔːrfəsɪs/) is a rare neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by the misidentification of people in the patient's environment. The term was first coined by the French psychiatrist Henri Ey in 1950.

Etymology

The term "intermetamorphosis" is derived from the Greek words "inter" (between), "meta" (change), and "morphosis" (forming). It literally means "change between forms".

Symptoms

Patients with intermetamorphosis believe that familiar people in their environment have exchanged identities with each other. This is not a simple case of prosopagnosia (face blindness), as patients can still recognize faces. Instead, they believe that the person's identity, including their personality and memories, has been transferred to another person.

Related Terms

Capgras delusion: A disorder where a person believes a friend, spouse, parent, or other close family member has been replaced by an identical-looking impostor.
Fregoli delusion: A disorder in which a person believes that different people are in fact a single person who changes appearance or is in disguise.
Cotard delusion: A rare disorder in which a person holds a delusional belief that they are dead, do not exist, are putrefying, or have lost their blood or internal organs.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of intermetamorphosis is primarily based on the patient's reported symptoms and a thorough psychiatric evaluation. There are no specific laboratory tests to diagnose this condition. It is often associated with other psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

Treatment

Treatment for intermetamorphosis primarily involves managing the underlying condition that may be causing the symptoms. This can include medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Intermetamorphosis
Wikipedia's article - Intermetamorphosis

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Intermetamorphosis