Neurobiological Delusions: Regional Cerebral Blood Flow insights into Cotard’s Syndrome and Schizophrenia

Cotard’s syndrome is a clinically rare condition that is characterized by nihilistic or immortality delusions, which are often accompanied by thoughts of suicide, depression, and anxiety. These symptoms vary among individuals but are generally distinguished as a neuropsychiatric disorder. The cause of this condition is further investigated in a recent case study, where a 52-year-old male patient diagnosed with schizophrenia and mild intellectual disability is examined. The patient suffered from several lumbar fractures due to an attempted suicide, and after admission to the hospital, the patient was diagnosed with Cotard’s syndrome. This study aimed to assess the longitudinal changes of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) on a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan, with respect to a schizophrenic patient displaying Cotard’s syndrome. The symptoms of Cotard’s syndrome appear to dissipate through administration of Lurasidone, which is observed through SPECT and changes in rCBF. The observed correlation between the development of Cotard’s syndrome and an increased rCBF provides a strong basis on the nature of the condition, and enhanced understanding of neuropsychiatric conditions.