Brève note historique sur le délire de supposition de Sérieux et Capgras

Abstract

ObjectivesP. Sérieux and J. Capgras isolated – within the delusion of interpretation – a particular shape of delusion which they named “delusion of supposition”. We shall show the clinical relevance of their observations, and how much these remain relevant. Through this kind of rehabilitation of the “delusion of supposition”, we shall see the central place of the interpretation in the psychosis, its report in the allusion, and how the psychoanalysis can try to read this type of interpretative psychosis. MethodWe propose a brief review of the literature on the subject. By leaving works of Lasègue (1881) and “imperceptible vague approximation” observed in the perplexed melancholy, we shall see how Sérieux and Capgras, then Capgras and Abély, and finally only Capgras, give the precise outlines of this type of delusion. ResultsWhile in the psychoses the character of certainty is prevailing most of the time, in this delusion the remarkable characteristic consists of the fact that these subjects do not present of phenomena elementary psychotics, no hallucinations, no speech difficulties, etc. It is the subjects who feel certainly concerned, aimed primarily, persecuted, but their interpretations do not succeed in exceeding the stage of the uncertainty. They “do not assert” themselves, “do not” “fix”, do not come to assemble, to form a delirious system, either, when it happens, the system lasts little, collapses abruptly, and the hesitations, the “delirious doubts” get over it. DiscussionIt is a question of raising the importance and the clinical validity of the delusion of supposition, uncommon certainly, but nevertheless essential to recognize as psychosis. The notions of interpretation, doubt, allusion, perplexity and certainty must be approached. ConclusionThe delusion of supposition joins in a certain sense what as V. Magnan (1894) had described concerning the said phase of “incubation” of the systematic chronic delusion. The link must be also made with the more recent works of H. Grivois (concepts of “rising psychosis”, of “centrement”). This delusion leaves the subject in an uncomfortable, alarming position, because submitted constantly to the delirious threat of the world which surrounds him, without being able to bring to it a soothing, or definitive answer.