Hallucination: Delusion Disorder

Introduction

Delusion disorder (DD) previously known as paranoia is a subject of interest since the development of the concept of paranoia by Emil Kreapelin. In the delusion, patient believes in something which is not present or more generally hallucination. Patients with the DD do not consider themselves ill and most often oppose the psychiatric treatment. There is not enough data and literature on DD so patient remains misdiagnosed [1]. Delusion is seen in many psychiatric disorders including Schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder however, delusion disorder is somehow different from other psychiatric disorders [2]. It is diagnosed by at least one month consistent duration of delusion, exclusion of schizophrenia and generally normal appearance of behavior [2]. There is not enough data on gender difference study on DD as many psychotic disorders contain comparable clinical differences between both sexes, however it is believed that it is more common in women than the men [3]. DD is difficult to treat; often patients are prescribed to take antipsychotic medicines.

Other psychotic therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is under consideration for DD treatment [4].

Prevalence of DD

There are 24-30 cases of deluded patients in every 100000 people according to a study. Whereas according to De Portugal et al. DD cases are 0.006% in a community [5, 6]. DD mostly occurs in the age of 35 to 55 years [1, 7]. DD is most commonly happen to be more in the female than male, and most DD patients are not married [5]. DD mostly occur in the patient with older age, family history of psychiatric disorder, stressed life and paranoid personality disorder [5]. According to Bell, there is a collection of models that correlates to delusion. These models include both positive and negative beliefs. These models are not normal beliefs but are somehow at an extreme spectrum [6, 8].

The Neuropsychological relation of DD

It is believed that some delusions are neuropsychological in origin. Patient with episodic memory is generally considered to have DD. Most patients with DD also suffers from schizophrenia, cognitive flexibility, erotomania in accordance with cognitive flexibility and copgras syndrome [6]. Brain damage is considered to be the one possible cause of DD. Damage to the subcortical structure on the right and left frontal lobe are considered to cause monothematic delusions [6]. According to doctors neuropsychological abnormalities are the cause of delusion. The right frontal cortex is considered to be the possible cause of the neuropsychological delusion disorder. According to studies, there is a relationship between anxiety and DD [6].

Treatment

There is no prescribed cure for DD. Medications of other psychotic disorder are prescribed for DD patients. There is a need to conduct randomized trials for DD in order to find out most effective drugs. Medications for DD could be determined by reporting results of psychosis studies on people [4].

Conclusion

Causes for delusion are not fully understood. There is a lack of data to understand this disorder and to find its cure [9]. There is a need to conduct large prospective studies on DD to understand it completely.