Persecutory delusional disorder Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
It is a mental condition, was previously known as paranoid disorder, in which the patient cannot differentiate between real and imaginary things. It is a type of mental illness. The main feature of this condition is the occurrence of delusion. The patient in this condition start believing on something which is not real. The patient feels and imagine the things that can happen in the real life like someone close to the patient is spying or following him, someone is going to poison him, or may deceive him. In real, these situations are not going to happen.
Some people can cope with persecutory delusional disorder and continue their routine life apart from delusion. Delusions may be secondary to the neurological disorder named schizophrenia. Delusions itself cannot occur or may occur rarely. This condition is most common in women as compare to men. Delusional disorder may have many types like erotomanic (in this type the patient assume that someone is in love with him), grandiose (the patient have over inflated sense of humor in this type), jealousy (the patient feel jealous of others), persecutory (this is the type in which the patient thinks that someone is spying on him and deceiving him).
The most common symptom appearing is the non-bizarre delusions. But along with non-bizarre delusions, the following symptoms may also occur.
There may be many reasons like psychotic disorders behind persecutory delusional disorder. But the exact cause is unknown till now. There are many factors involved in the etiology of persecutory delusional disorder.
The persecutory or any type of delusional disorder can be treated with therapy i.e. psychotherapy and medications. The patients treated with the medications show partial improvement. Medications are always the 1st priority to treat the delusional disorder, but the psychotherapy is also done along with treatment to speed up the recovery. The psychotherapy are of three types
The medications used to treat delusional disorder are as follows:
Some people can cope with persecutory delusional disorder and continue their routine life apart from delusion. Delusions may be secondary to the neurological disorder named schizophrenia. Delusions itself cannot occur or may occur rarely. This condition is most common in women as compare to men. Delusional disorder may have many types like erotomanic (in this type the patient assume that someone is in love with him), grandiose (the patient have over inflated sense of humor in this type), jealousy (the patient feel jealous of others), persecutory (this is the type in which the patient thinks that someone is spying on him and deceiving him).
Persecutory delusional disorder Symptoms
The most common symptom appearing is the non-bizarre delusions. But along with non-bizarre delusions, the following symptoms may also occur.
- Patient is most of the time in low mood and feel anger whenever he overthinks.
- Patient suffer from hallucinations, like seeing which is not real, hearing the unsaid words, assuming something which is not real. If the patient comes to know that someone have bad odor, the patient will assume that bad odor of the person.
- Patient feel fear and mostly shout out loud on the persons around him.
Persecutory delusional disorder Causes
There may be many reasons like psychotic disorders behind persecutory delusional disorder. But the exact cause is unknown till now. There are many factors involved in the etiology of persecutory delusional disorder.
- Genetic factor is on top, as it can occur in genes transmitted from any family member suffering from schizophrenia.
- Biological disorder is on 2nd number, the trauma or injury in the head effect the brain function that can lead to any psychotic as well as neurological disorder like schizophrenia and delusions.
- Environmental factors are also involved like taking excessive stress can lead to persecutory delusional disorder.
Persecutory delusional disorder Treatment
The persecutory or any type of delusional disorder can be treated with therapy i.e. psychotherapy and medications. The patients treated with the medications show partial improvement. Medications are always the 1st priority to treat the delusional disorder, but the psychotherapy is also done along with treatment to speed up the recovery. The psychotherapy are of three types
- Individual psychotherapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Family therapy
The medications used to treat delusional disorder are as follows:
- Conventional antipsychotics (these are dopamine receptor blockers)
- Atypical antipsychotics like clozaril, zyprexa
- The other medications are tranquilizers and anti -depressants.
Persecutory delusional disorder Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
Reviewed by Simon Albert
on
June 11, 2017
Rating:
Reviewed by Simon Albert
on
June 11, 2017
Rating:
