An Unusual Case Report of Cotard’s Syndrome with Depressive Delusions

Abstract

Cotard’s Syndrome, also known as nihilistic delusion or Cotard’s delusion, is an exceptionally rare psychiatric condition characterized by delusional beliefs ranging from a sense of being dead to the conviction of bodily decay or nonexistence. This case report of a male patient, aged 21 years, with Cotard’s Syndrome highlights the difficulties in diagnosis, the course of therapy, and the clinical ramifications of this illness. The patient exhibited symptoms of severe depression along with nihilistic delusions, expressing the belief that he was deceased and experiencing bodily decay. Nihilistic delusions and depressed symptoms compatible with Cotard’s syndrome in the setting of major depressive disorder were found during the patient’s mental state evaluation, despite the absence of a serious physical disease or drug addiction. Treatment consisted of antidepressant and antipsychotic medication, along with individual psychotherapy sessions focusing on cognitive restructuring. Over time, the patient demonstrated gradual improvement in delusional beliefs and depressive symptoms, highlighting the importance of comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and individualized treatment planning.