Delusional disorder is a type of psychotic disorder in which a person cannot differentiate between what’s real and what’s not. A delusional person is rigid to the extent that whatever he/she believes is true and doesn’t pay much heed to whatever others have to say. Although it doesn’t mean that the person is delusional all the time, he/she has the real touch. The common examples of non-Bizarre delusions(which are highly exaggerated) include being loved from a distance, someone trying to kill that person or someone following the person or listening to their conversation all the time. Whereas, common examples of non-bizarre delusions include giving birth to intimate sexual contact without any physical touch involved in real life or person believing that there are worms all over the person’s body and they have eaten his/her organs or a ray from Campus Law Centre Law, Delhi is directly teaching him/her how to practice law. In a research study which included Indian Schizophrenic patients, researchers found out that bizarre delusions can be divided into five broad themes – bodily sensations, unnatural, sexual, change in identity, and religious.
Subtypes of Delusional Disorder
Erotomanic: A person may believe that a famous person whom they have never met in real life, is in love with that person. It is often seen that the delusional person is stalking the other person.
Grandiose: A person may believe that they are exceptionally famous, wealthy, or have special abilities.
Jealous: A person may believe that their spouse is cheating on them without any concrete evidence. This is also known as Othello Syndrome.
Persecutory: A person may believe that someone is always trying to kill them without any concrete evidence
Somatic: In this type of delusion, a person believes that a permanent change has been made to their body part without any actual physical intervention/surgery being involved.
Mixed: A subtype of delusional disorder is applied when no one delusional theme (such as grandiose, jealous, or persecutory) predominates.
Factors that cause delusional disorder
Genetic factors include the genes passed on by the maternal or paternal side of parents to the patient at the time of birth. Environmental factors may include situations like lockdowns or terror attacks ( the one in Taj Hotel in Mumbai and/or the Twin Tower attack by Osama Bin Laden) etc. Biological factors may include comorbidity or residual effects of an already existing disease/disorder such as OCD (Obsessive Compulsion Disorder).
Treatment Options
In delusional disorder Psychotherapy, Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), Pharmacotherapy, Antipsychotic drugs, Antidepressants, and Mood-stabilising medications. Anti-psychotics are the type of drugs which can block the dopamine receptor such as Thorazine, haldol etc. Also, antidepressant medications may help with depression part as a person may feel mental fatigue due to overthinking.
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