Cotard syndrome in semantic dementia.

BACKGROUND

Semantic dementia is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of meaning of words or concepts. semantic dementia can offer potential insights into the mechanisms of content-specific delusions.

OBJECTIVE

The authors present a rare case of semantic dementia with Cotard syndrome, a delusion characterized by nihilism or self-negation.

METHOD: The semantic deficits and other features of semantic dementia were evaluated in relation to the patient's Cotard syndrome.

RESULTS

Mrs. A developed the delusional belief that she was wasting and dying. This occurred after she lost knowledge for her somatic discomforts and sensations and for the organs that were the source of these sensations. Her nihilistic beliefs appeared to emerge from her misunderstanding of her somatic sensations.

CONCLUSION

This unique patient suggests that a mechanism for Cotard syndrome is difficulty interpreting the nature and source of internal pains and sensations. We propose that loss of semantic knowledge about one's own body may lead to the delusion of nihilism or death.