A Case of “Double Autoscopy”

Abstract

Disorders of body image are reported to be relatively common, and have been observed in some studies to occur in as many as 25 per cent. of psychiatric patients (Lukianowicz, 1967). Reduplication of the body image, however, is comparatively rare. Although classical literature is rich in descriptions of visual hallucinations of the self, it is only comparatively recently that this phenomenon has received medical attention. Coleman (1934) wrote at length on the possible psychological significance of the “double”, but it was left to Lhermitte (1951) to study such autoscopic experiences clinically and to draw attention to their medical importance.