Cotard's Syndrome: Theoretical Behavior Therapy

Julie Glennon
Cotard Syndrome
If you've ever felt dead tired or you have said something like “I just wish I was dead!” this may be just the disorder for you. Cotard's Syndrome is appropriately nicknamed "Walking Corpse Syndrome" because someone afflicted with it really seriously and truly believes that they are dead, they do not exist, or they've had all their blood or organs removed. Someone suffering from Cotard's may not even recognize themselves when they look in the mirror and will begin to distance themselves emotionally, convincing themselves that they don't exist, or that they have died. In rare instances, it can include delusions of immortality (mutually excluding the possibility of such a condition of death as oblivion, unless regarded as just oneself to another or others).
Treatment is difficult; antidepressant…show more content…
The theory behind the approach is that some people are prone to react in a more intense and out-of-the-ordinary manner toward certain emotional situations, primarily those found in family and friend relationships. So what dialectical behavior therapy helps the patient form relationships with themselves and others means of identifying the patients strengths so they feel better about living in their life. Also identifying the patient’s thoughts beliefs that make their life harder and why they came to the belief that they did not exist.

References:
Psych Central. (2011). An Overview of Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Psych Central. Retrieved on April 13, 2012, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/2007/an-overview-of-dialectical-behavior-therapy/
Fact sheet: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Mental Health America. http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/treatment/electroconvulsive-therapy-ect. Accessed May 26, 2010
Richmond, R.. "A Guide to Psychology and Its Practices." . N.p., 2011. Web. 12 Apr 2012.