Delusional Disorder - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Delusional disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis denoting a psychotic mental illness. It is characterized by the presence of nonbizarre delusions in the absence of other mood or psychotic symptoms. Delusional disorder generally first affects people in middle or late adult life. Delusions tend to be nonbizarre and involve situations that could conceivably occur in real life, such as being followed, poisoned, infected, loved at a distance, or deceived by a spouse or lover. Several subtypes of delusional disorder are recognized. People with delusional disorder often can continue to socialize and function normally, apart from the subject of their delusion, and generally do not behave in an obviously odd or bizarre manner. This is unlike people with other psychotic disorders, who also might have delusions as a symptom of their disorder. In some cases, however, people with delusional disorder might become so preoccupied with their delusions that their lives are disrupted. Although delusions might be a symptom of more common disorders, such as schizophrenia , delusional disorder itself is rather rare. Delusional disorder most often occurs in middle to late life and is slightly more common in women than in men. The presence of non-bizarre delusions is the most obvious symptom of this disorder. Other symptoms that mighty appear include is irritable, angry, or low mood and Hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not really there) that are related to the delusion (For example, a person who believes he or she has an odor problem may smell a bad odor.) Certain areas of the brain might be involved in the development of delusional disorders. An imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters.

Delusional disorder may arise from a preexisting paranoid personality disorder. Beginning in early adulthood, people with a paranoid personality disorder demonstrate a pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others and their motives. Delusions are associated with a wide range of nonpsychiatric medical conditions, which suggest that biological factors may play some role in the development of delusional disorder. Among patients with neurologic disorders (primarily dementia, head injury, and seizures) conditions involving the basal ganglia and temporal lobe are most commonly associated with delusions. There are different types of delusional disorder based on the main theme of the delusions experienced. The types of delusional disorder include. First Erotomanic-Someone with this type of delusional disorder believes that another person, often someone important or famous, is in love with him or her. Second is Grandiose-A person with this type of delusional disorder has an over-inflated sense of worth, power, knowledge, or identity. Third is Jealous-A person with this type of delusional disorder believes that his or her spouse or sexual partner is unfaithful. Forth is Persecutory- People with this type of delusional disorder believe that they (or someone close to them) are being mistreated, or that someone is spying on them or planning to harm them. Fifth is Somatic-A person with this type of delusional disorder believes that he or she has a physical defect or medical problem and last is Mixed: People with this type of delusional disorder have two or more of the types of delusions listed above.

Causes of Delusional Disorder

Common Causes and Risk factors of Delusional Disorder

• Genetic factors.
• Biological factors.
• Environmental/psychological factors.

Signs and Symptoms of Delusional Disorder

Sign and Symptoms of Delusional Disorder

• Feeling exploited.
• Bearing grudges for a long time.
• Responding readily to perceived slights.
• An irritable, angry, or low mood.
• Hallucinations.

Treatment of Delusional Disorder

Common Treatment of Delusional Disorder

• Medication and psychotherapy (a type of counseling). Psychotherapy is the primary treatment for delusional disorder, including psychosocial treatment which can help with the behavioral and psychological problems associated with delusional disorder.
• Individual psychotherapy can help the person recognize and correct the underlying thinking that has become distorted.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help the person learn to recognize and change thought patterns and behaviors that lead to troublesome feelings.
• Family therapy can help families deal more effectively with a loved one who has delusional disorder, enabling them to contribute to a better outcome for the person.
• Other medications: Tranquilizers and anti-depressants might also be used to treat delusional disorder. Tranquilizers might be used if the person has a very high level of anxiety and/or problems sleeping. Anti-depressants might be used to treat depression, which often occurs in people with delusional disorder.