What is Delusional Disorder: Symptoms and Treatment

The Delusional Disorder or Paranoid psychosis is a psychotic disorder characterized by the presence of one or more delusions or out of reality, without thereby another significant concomitant pathology occurs.

To make this psychological diagnosis, delusions must persist at least one month and should not be the direct result of consuming any substance or medical condition.

People who have disorders Ravers are firmly convinced of things that are not really true. For example, believe they are good writers and been granted a Nobel Prize or think they are being persecuted and that there are people who want to harm them.

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This type of disorder is part of a group of disorders characterized by the appearance of a single delusional theme or group of delusions related to each other than are normally very persistent, and which may even last until the end of life of the individual. The content of the topic or set of delusions is very variable. It is often of persecution, hypochondriacal or grandeur, but can also refer to issues of litigation or jealousy or reveal the conviction that a part of the body is deformed or others think that odor is dismissed or that is gay.

Usually begins towards the middle or advanced age of life, but sometimes, especially in cases of physical deformity beliefs, arises at the beginning of maturity. Relate the content of delusions and when they appear and can usually to some significant biographical situations, for example, persecutory delusions in people who belong to social minorities. Outside the behavior directly related to the topic of ideas or delusional system are normal affectivity, language and other behavior.

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They are characterized mainly for being people with one or more ideas or very persistent beliefs that are not true but constantly invade his thoughts, though not always directly influence in their daily lives.

• Employment and social activity does not have to be affected, unless the delusions are related to any of these activities or the type of delirium. However, most people with this disorder develop a cranky mood, may even have violent behaviors.
• They are usually very reserved people and keep quite secretive when talking about his delirium.
• They are people who can have up disorganized and incoherent ideas, although they have an undeniable sense.

Types Delusions

There are four main types of delusions depending on the type of delirium, are as follows.

1. Persecutory type: It is the most common. Who suffers is totally convinced that is the subject of some kind of plot, and to spy on and even persecute him.
2. Great person: This delusion makes the person considered herself someone important because you think you have made ​​some kind of great discovery, which has an extraordinary talent or has been the subject of some important event. They may believe they are great scientists, bankers, writers, etc.
3. Somatic Type: This kind of delirium affects the senses. The most common idea is the belief that a part of your body gives off odor or has some internal parasite or walking through your skin.
4. Jealous type: The fundamental purpose of this delusion is the belief that your partner is cheating. This conviction is based on incorrect assumptions and uncertain evidence. The big problem with this type of delusion is that it can become physically assaulting his partner.
5. Erotomania type: It is based on the delusional and persistent conviction of being loved by someone. Usually it appears in women who believe receives messages or covert signals the person to his loving delirium, and that is usually a reference to it (a doctor, teacher, singer, etc.). Usually they tend to contact that person through phone calls, phone messages, letters, gifts, etc. Typically, the person under this idea occupies a higher status, but may also be a stranger.

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Treatment

There are treatments that can alleviate symptoms, reducing and helping the person to think more clearly. The therapist focuses on achieving patient confidence from a series of slow and progressive steps. The most important principle is to accept that which explains, but without confirming their beliefs, and try to explore their thoughts and feelings gradually.

From the perspective of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, the therapeutic approach focuses primarily on modifying the delusional belief and emotional and behavioral consequences. It is advisable to periodically visit a psychologist or psychiatrist as part of treatment, in order to help and guide to understanding those thoughts and be able to control them better and learn, too, to prevent future problems.