Walking Dead Syndrome
THE WALKING DEAD SYNDROME
English 150
Instructor: S. Jone
November 7, 2011
The Walking Dead Syndrome
Introduction
The Walking Dead syndrome is considered a rare disease. I believe everyone in this existence has a purpose on this vast place we call earth. However, there are people diagnosed with a syndrome who believe they have no soul or convinced themselves they are dead. The “Walking Dead Syndrome” is also commonly known as “Cotard’s Syndrome”. In this paper, I will refer this syndrome as “Cotard’s syndrome”.
Cotard’s syndrome is linked with other mental illnesses which could explain a person’s state of mind of feeling non-existent in society. I will further discuss eight aspects of this syndrome: defining the Walking Dead Syndrome, defining mental illness, description of several mental illnesses associated with this syndrome, classifications of Cotard’s syndrome, analysis of patients, diagnosis of syndrome, and types of treatments available for patients.
Defining Walking Dead Syndrome or Cotard’s Syndrome
Many people I discussed this topic with never heard of the “Walking Dead Syndrome”. The Walking Dead Syndrome was first created by French neurologist, Jules Cotard, hence, named the “Cotard’s Syndrome”. He was a French neurologist who first described this psychiatric condition. First reference to the syndrome was made in the year 1880, when Jules Cotard gave a lecture in Paris. In this lecture, he described various degrees of the syndrome, while he said that a person who resorts to despair and self-hatred begins in the early stages of this disorder. With deterioration, the person might go to the extent of denying the very existence of himself or herself. There are detached from the sense of existence of self (“Cotard Syndrome” 2010).
Patients portray themselves similar to the concept of “zombies”. Hollywood has portrayed horror and science fiction based movies on “zombies” or the “walking dead”. In the movies, zombies are typically mean
English 150
Instructor: S. Jone
November 7, 2011
The Walking Dead Syndrome
Introduction
The Walking Dead syndrome is considered a rare disease. I believe everyone in this existence has a purpose on this vast place we call earth. However, there are people diagnosed with a syndrome who believe they have no soul or convinced themselves they are dead. The “Walking Dead Syndrome” is also commonly known as “Cotard’s Syndrome”. In this paper, I will refer this syndrome as “Cotard’s syndrome”.
Cotard’s syndrome is linked with other mental illnesses which could explain a person’s state of mind of feeling non-existent in society. I will further discuss eight aspects of this syndrome: defining the Walking Dead Syndrome, defining mental illness, description of several mental illnesses associated with this syndrome, classifications of Cotard’s syndrome, analysis of patients, diagnosis of syndrome, and types of treatments available for patients.
Defining Walking Dead Syndrome or Cotard’s Syndrome
Many people I discussed this topic with never heard of the “Walking Dead Syndrome”. The Walking Dead Syndrome was first created by French neurologist, Jules Cotard, hence, named the “Cotard’s Syndrome”. He was a French neurologist who first described this psychiatric condition. First reference to the syndrome was made in the year 1880, when Jules Cotard gave a lecture in Paris. In this lecture, he described various degrees of the syndrome, while he said that a person who resorts to despair and self-hatred begins in the early stages of this disorder. With deterioration, the person might go to the extent of denying the very existence of himself or herself. There are detached from the sense of existence of self (“Cotard Syndrome” 2010).
Patients portray themselves similar to the concept of “zombies”. Hollywood has portrayed horror and science fiction based movies on “zombies” or the “walking dead”. In the movies, zombies are typically mean
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