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Everyone has those days when it feels too hard to get up, but this is nothing compared to what a small number of people around the world feel - like they're dead. More than a feeling, they actually believe that they are dead.

Though it may sound like something out of a movie, Cotard's syndrome, also known as Cotard's delusion or "walking corpse syndrome," is very real. People with Cotard's syndrome believe that some parts of their body are missing. In some cases, they may think that they are dying, dead, or do not exist at all.

Because of this bizarre feeling, people with Cotard's syndrome often isolate themselves from others. They do not see the point of nutrition, so they do not want to eat, or sometimes they end up harming themselves.

The psychological disorder is common in people in their 50s, although it can occur at any age. Aside from age, past diagnoses of mental health issues can also contribute to having Cotard's syndrome. In a study from 2017, Mayo Clinic researchers found that Cotard's syndrome occurred due to a relatively wide spectrum of neurological, psychiatric and medical disorders. Fortunately, this can be treated.

Cotard's syndrome and schizophrenia

Cotard's syndrome can be a symptom of schizophrenia. However, it is rare, and only less than one percent of schizophrenia patients have it. In some cases, a person's schizophrenia may be the reason why they would have Cotard's syndrome.  

Cotard's syndrome and depression

In an analysis of 100 patients aged 16 to 81 with Cotard's syndrome, 89 percent were found to have depression. Anxiety and guilt were also found to be common.