A Case Report: Capgras Delusion in Adolescence. Nursing Care Plan

Abstract

Capgras syndrome is a delusional disorder classified among the delusional misidentification syndromes and is characterised by the belief that a close person has been replaced by a physically identical impostor. Although its overall prevalence is low, diagnosing it in children and adolescents poses a clinical challenge, particularly when factors such as substance use, family dysfunction, or migration-related circumstances coexist.

This article presents the clinical case of a 16-year-old adolescent with acute psychotic symptoms consistent with Capgras delusion, a history of cannabis use, and dysfunctional family dynamics. Admission to a child and adolescent inpatient unit enabled a comprehensive intervention. A systematic assessment was conducted according to Virginia Henderson’s model, and an individualised care plan was developed using the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association International (NANDA-I) taxonomy of nursing diagnoses, the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC), and the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC).

The main nursing diagnoses identified included disturbed thought processes, anxiety, ineffective coping, and compromised family coping. This case highlights the relevance of a multidisciplinary approach and the importance of the nursing role in the detection, monitoring, follow-up, and care of adolescent patients with uncommon psychotic symptoms. Evidence-based standardisation of care, together with a patient-centred approach that considers the patient’s context, is essential for achieving effective and compassionate mental health interventions.