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Delusional Disorder Overview, Cause, Types, Symptoms, Treatment, Medication
Delusional disorder, as defined in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), refers to a group of conditions in which the central feature is the presence of delusions in the absence of other symptomatology. As with much of modern psychiatry, the concept of delusional disorder is a point along a continuum of constantly evolving thought regarding diagnostic categories.
Subtypes of Delusional Disorder
- Erotomanic Delusional Disorder: in which the person believes that a person of usually higher status is in love with them
- Grandiose Delusional Disorder: which is delusions of inflated worth, power, knowledge, identity, or special relationships
- Jealous is that where they believe the sexual partner is unfaithful
- Persecutory Delusional Disorder: by which they believe they or someone they are close to is being maltreated
- Somatic Delusional Disorder: in which they believe they have a physical problem, defect, or illness
- Mixed type of Delusional Disorder: in which more than one of the previous types is present.
Diagnostic Criteria of Delusional Disorder
- Nonbizarre delusions (i.e., involving situations that occur in real life, such as being followed, poisoned, infected, loved at a distance, or deceived by spouse or lover, or having a disease) of at least 1 month's duration.
- Criterion A for Schizophrenia has never been met. Note: Tactile and olfactory hallucinations may be present in Delusional Disorder if they are related to the delusional theme.
Criterion A of Schizophrenia requires two (or more) of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a 1-month period (or less if successfully treated):
- delusions
- hallucinations
- disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence)
- grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
- negative symptoms, i.e., affective flattening, alogia, or avolition
Note: Criteria A of Schizophrenia requires only one symptom if delusions are bizarre or hallucinations consist of a voice keeping up a running commentary on the person's behavior or thoughts, or two or more voices conversing with each other.
- Apart from the impact of the delusion(s) or its ramifications, functioning is not markedly impaired and behavior is not obviously odd or bizarre.
- If mood episodes have occurred concurrently with delusions, their total duration has been brief relative to the duration of the delusional periods.
- The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.
Associated Features
- Psychosis
- Depressed Mood
- Somatic or Sexual Dysfunction
- Odd or Eccentric or Suspicious Personality
It is important to note the distinguishment between this disorder and paranoid schizophrenia, which is that in this disorder, the symptoms of hallucination, incoherence, and loosened association are not present.
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