Cotard's syndrome: A review

Abstract

Cotard's syndrome is a rare disorder in which nihilistic delusions concerning one's own body are the central feature. It is not listed as a specific disorder in the DSM-IV, as it is typically viewed as a part of other underlying disorders. However, it remains important to recognize the syndrome because specific underlying mechanisms are present, and prognostic and therapeutic consequences have to be taken into account. This review presents an up-to-date overview of Cotard's syndrome, which was initially described more than a century ago. © Current Medicine Group, LLC 2009.