DR. JOHN'S CASE NOTES : THE COTARD DELUSION

The Cotard Delusion ( or more commonly known as negation delusion) is a disorder in which a person believes that he/she is dead, or does not exist for real or has lost his body parts or organs. This peculiar disorder is very prevalent amongst bridge players, who encounter traumatic experiences in the form of disastrous results and/or episodes of play. The trauma usually causes the brain to switch off for just a few seconds.....before they suddenly wake up believing they are dead........which is not surprising if they had been crucified by partner prior to the neurological blip. Victims of this disorder can not recognise the club as their club anymore, because they now believe they have been transported to another world. This of course is Satan's den.....Hades itself. Nothing can convince them otherwise. As more miserable and wretched scores are recorded, partners' ongoing tirades of abuse convince them even more of their plight. Comments like..." You headless chicken "........" You spineless wimp "......" You've got no balls "........" You're gutless "........" You're not all there, are you ? "......." You brainless moron "........" What's happened to the hand you were supposed to have "......... " Are you for real ? ".......... "I'm flogging a dead horse here" ......only reinforce their delusions. Often an sufferer will leave the club, whimpering under their breath " I 've had hell of a night " , totally convinced that he has been condemned to return to this fiery pit of duplicate bridge for the rest of his eternal life......such is the punishment imposed on any player who is extremely bad.