reduplicative paramnesia
Pronunciation: par-am-NEE-zhah
A delusion where patients believe familiar places have been duplicated and exist in multiple locations simultaneously.
Full Definition
Reduplicative paramnesia is a type of delusional misidentification specifically affecting places rather than people. Patients typically believe that a familiar location, often their current hospital or residence, has been duplicated and exists in multiple places. They may acknowledge being in a hospital that looks identical to their local facility but insist it has been relocated or replicated elsewhere. This condition often results from right hemisphere damage, particularly involving the frontal and temporal regions, and is commonly seen following brain injury or in dementia.
Usage
Usage note: Specifically involves places/locations, not people. Often seen with other right hemisphere syndromes.
In Context
- "The patient's reduplicative paramnesia led to confusion about whether she was in the 'real' or 'duplicate' hospital." — Neuropsychiatric consultation
- "Reduplicative paramnesia complicated discharge planning as the patient refused to believe she was at her local hospital." — Social work assessment