Delusional Disorder: Symptoms, Types and Treatments

Delusional Disorder: Symptoms, Types and Treatments

Delusional disorder formerly known as paranoid disorder. Delusional disorder is a form of severe mental illness known as “psychosis” in this disorder an individual cannot differentiate between what is real from what is imagined. The major characteristic of delusional disorder is the occurrence of delusions that are constant beliefs in somewhat untrue. Individuals having delusional disorder incident non-bizarre delusions that involve condition that might occur in real life, like the person chased, deceived, conspired against, poisoned or loved from a distance. These delusions generally involve the misconception of experiences or perceptions. 

Diagnostic criteria according to DSM-5:  

A. The occurrence of one and more delusions with an interval of one month or longer.

B. Criterion A used for schizophrenia was never be meet.

Note: If Hallucinations present then they are not in major form and are associated with the delusional idea(e.g., the feeling of becoming tainted with insects linked to the delusions of infestation.

C. Away from the effect of the delusion(s) and its consequence, performance is not obviously damage and the behavior is not clearly odd or bizarre.

D. If major depressive or manic episodes have happened, these may be brief in relation to the period of delusional episodes.

E. The disorder may not be better explained by physiological effects of another medical condition  or of a substance and is not perfectly  explained by another mental disorder, for example obsessive-compulsive disorder or body dysmorphic disorder.

Types of Delusions in Delusional Disorders:

The types of delusional disorder are based upon the chief theme of the delusion:

Erotomanic: The individual consider that somebody is in love with him and may attempt to contact that individual. Usually it’s somebody famous or important. This may direct to stalking behavior.

Grandiose: The individual has an over-inflated sense ofidentity, power, knowledge or worth. The person may believe that he made a significant discovery or have a enormous talent.

Jealous: The individual with this kind believes that his sexual partner or spouse is unfaithful.

Persecutory: The individual has the belief that he and his family is being mistreated, or someone is planning to harm them, or that someone is spying on them. They may  frequently complaints to the legal authorities.

Somatic: The person in this believe that he have a medical problem or physical defect.

Mixed: The individual has two or more of the forms of the delusions mentioned above.

Symptoms of Delusional Disorder:

They symptoms generally consist of the following:-

Non-bizarre delusions are the main evident symptom angry, low mood or irritable mood.

Hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or feeling things which are not actually present) associated with the delusion. Like, a person who considers that he has an aroma problem may smell an awful odor.

Treatment:

Treatment mainly contains psychotherapy and medication.

Medications: The prime medications prescribed to an effort for the treatment of delusional disorder are known as anti-psychotics.  Following are the medications used for the treatment:

Conventional antipsychotics, are also known as  neuroleptics, Since the mid-1950s these have been prescribed for the treat of mental disorders . These medications effect in the brain by blocking dopamine receptors. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter considered to be responsible in the increase of the delusions. Conventional antipsychotics contains haloperidol (Haldol®), perphenazine (Trilafon®), thioridazine (Mellaril®) thiothixene (Navane®) and  trifluoperazine (Stelazine®),.

Novel medications are known as atypical antipsychotic drugs emerge to be more effectual for the treatment of the signs of delusional disorder. Atypical antipsychotic drugs work by blocking in the brain serotonin and dopamine receptors. Serotonin is the one more neurotransmitter supposed to be responsible for delusional disorder. These medications contain clozapine (Clozaril®), olanzapine (Zyprexa®), ziprasidone (Geodon®), quetiapine (Seroquel®) and risperidone (Risperdal®),.

Other medicines which can be prescribed for the treatment of delusional disorder comprise of antidepressants and tranquilizers. Antidepressants may be prescribed for the treatment of depression, which frequently occurs in individuales with delusional disorder. Tranquilizers can be prescribed for the treatment of the individual having a extremely high level of problems sleeping and anxiety.

Psychotherapy may also be supportive, beside the medicine, in a mean to assist individuals’ better cope and manage with the stresses associated with their delusional beliefs and its effect on their lives. 

Psychotherapies:

Psychotherapies that can be used in delusional disorder contain:

 

Individual psychotherapy: It may assist the individual identify and correct the thoughts that have turned out to be distorted.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may assist the individual be trained to identify and alter thinking patterns and behaviors that direct to upsetting feelings.

Family therapy may assist the families deal with a person having a delusional disorder, allow them assist the individual.