reduplicative paramnesia
Pronunciation: re-DU-pli-cay-tiv par-am-NEE-zee-ah
Delusion that familiar places have been duplicated and exist in multiple locations simultaneously.
Full Definition
Reduplicative paramnesia is a rare delusional misidentification syndrome where patients believe that familiar places, typically their home or hospital, have been duplicated and exist in two or more locations simultaneously. Patients maintain that they are in a place that looks identical to a familiar location but insist it is actually a duplicate elsewhere. This condition typically results from right hemisphere lesions, particularly affecting the frontal and parietal regions, often in the context of brain injury, stroke, or dementia. The condition represents a combination of memory dysfunction and impaired reality testing. Unlike simple disorientation, patients provide elaborate, detailed explanations for their beliefs about the duplicated locations.
Usage
Usage note: Part of delusional misidentification syndromes; distinguish from simple disorientation by elaborate explanatory narratives.
In Context
- "Reduplicative paramnesia led the patient to insist the hospital was a duplicate of his local facility." — Delusional misidentification assessment
- "Following right hemisphere stroke, she developed reduplicative paramnesia for her home." — Neuropsychiatric evaluation report