Cotard’s: a controlled single case study of putative perceptual, cognitive and psychological risk factors

Edelstyn, Nicola M.J.; Di Rosa, Elisa; Prabhu, Swathi; Oyebode, Femi

Abstract

This case study explores the psychological and neuropsychological traits of a 55-year-old woman, D.R., who has Cotard’s, believing her torso has dissolved and food bypasses her legs. Her delusion emerged amid major depressive disorder with psychotic features, following prodromal symptoms like body distortion and somatosensory abnormalities. A neuropsychological assessment during remission revealed low-level visual perceptual deficits in an otherwise intact cognitive profile. Subtle distortions in bodily signals and specific attribution styles were identified as vulnerability factors, suggesting that the delusion may emerge when already strained information processing systems are further challenged. This relates to models of delusion formation.

Citation

Edelstyn, N. M., Di Rosa, E., Prabhu, S., & Oyebode, F. (2025). Cotard’s: a controlled single case study of putative perceptual, cognitive and psychological risk factors. Neurocase, 31(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1080/13554794.2024.2436207

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 25, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Dec 24, 2024
• Publication Date: Jan 2, 2025
• Deposit Date: Feb 7, 2025
• Journal: Neurocase
• Print ISSN: 1355-4794
• Electronic ISSN: 1465-3656
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 31
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 1-10
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13554794.2024.2436207
• Keywords: Cotard’s; sensory homunculus; prodromal; remission; body distortion
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/1072860
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13554794.2024.2436207#abstract
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=nncs20; Received: 2023-10-17; Accepted: 2024-11-25; Published: 2024-12-24