The Fregoli delusion or Fregoli syndrome is a rare disorder in which a person holds a delusional belief that different people are in fact a single person who changes their appearance or is in disguise. Often this belief is of a paranoid nature with the delusional person believing that they are being persecuted by the person whom they believe to be following them. A delusion is commonly defined as a false belief, and is used in everyday language to describe a belief that is either false, fanciful or derived from deception. ... In popular culture, the term paranoia is usually used to describe excessive concern about ones own well-being, sometimes suggesting a person holds persecutory beliefs concerning a threat to themselves or their property and is often linked to a belief in conspiracy theories. ... Persecution is persistent mistreatment of an individual or group by another group. ...

The condition is named after the Italian actor Leopoldo Fregoli who was renowned for his ability to make quick changes of appearance during his stage act. Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... Leopoldo Fregoli (July 2, 1867 – November 26, 1936) was a stage and early cinema Italian actor. ...

It was first reported in a paper by P. Courbon and G. Fail in 1927 (Syndrome d’illusion de Frégoli et schizophrénie). They discussed the case study of a 27-year-old woman who believed she was being persecuted by two actors whom she often went to see at the theatre. She believed that these people "pursued her closely, taking the form of people she knows or meets". 1927 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The Fregoli delusion is classed as a delusional misidentification syndrome, a class of delusional beliefs that involves the misidentification of people, places or objects. Like Capgras delusion, it is thought to be related to a breakdown in normal face perception. Delusional misidentification syndrome is an umbrella term for a group of delusional disorders that occur in the context of mental or neurological illness. ... The Capgras delusion or Capgras syndrome is a rare disorder in which a person holds a delusional belief that an acquaintance, usually a close family member or spouse has been replaced by an identical looking imposter. ... Face perception is the process by which the brain and mind understand and interpret the face, particularly the human face. ...

See also

• Capgras delusion
• delusion
• delusional misidentification syndrome

The Capgras delusion or Capgras syndrome is a rare disorder in which a person holds a delusional belief that an acquaintance, usually a close family member or spouse has been replaced by an identical looking imposter. ... A delusion is commonly defined as a false belief, and is used in everyday language to describe a belief that is either false, fanciful or derived from deception. ... Delusional misidentification syndrome is an umbrella term for a group of delusional disorders that occur in the context of mental or neurological illness. ...

References

• Ellis, H. D.; Whitley, J.; & Luaute, J. P. (1994). Delusional misidentification. The three original papers on the Capgras, Fregoli and intermetamorphosis delusions. (Classic Text No. 17). History of Psychiatry 5 (17 pt. 1) 117–146.
• Mojtabai, R. (1994). Fregoli syndrome. Australia and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 28 (3) 458–462.