Delusions or delusions are one type of serious mental disorder. In medical terms, delusions are also called psychosis. This condition is characterized by difficulty in distinguishing what is real and what is imagination.
People with delusional disorder often believe things that are not real or do not match the actual situation. Even though it has been proven that what he believes is not true, he will still hold on to his thoughts and assume that what he believes is true.
For example, people with delusional disorder may strongly believe in the existence of aliens or UFOs. He can also often feel paranoid and feel that someone wants to hurt or kill him, when in fact there isn't.
If you don't get treatment, people with this mental disorder will find it difficult to interact with other people and lead a productive life.
Causes and Risk Factors for Delusional Disorder
The cause of delusional disorder is not known for certain, but this mental disorder is known to be associated with various triggering factors, ranging from heredity or genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological disorders.
People who have a family history of delusional disorder or certain mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, are known to have a higher risk of developing delusions.
In addition, the risk of delusions is also often associated with severe stress, personality disorders, drug abuse, drug or alcohol addiction, and brain disorders due to severe head injury or certain diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, dementia, and stroke. .
Different Types of Delusional Disorder
Delusional disorders are divided into several types, including:
1. Delusion of grandeur (grandiose)
People with this type of delusion tend to feel that they are more powerful, great, intelligent, and have a higher social status, and believe that they have made an important discovery or have great talent. People with delusional disorder also have a tendency to be narcissistic.
In addition, he also believes that he has special abilities or has special relationships or relationships with big figures, such as presidents or famous celebrities. In fact, however, this is not the case.
2. Erotomania
The next type of delusion is erotomania. People with erotomania believe that they are loved or admired by other people, usually people who are famous or have important positions, such as certain artists or figures.
People with this delusional disorder can even stalk and try to make contact with the person who is the target of their delusions.
3. Delusions of pursuit (persecutory)
The sufferer of this delusion always feels threatened, because he believes that someone else is trying to harm him, spy on him, or plan to harm him. People who have chase delusions also tend to have a hard time trusting other people.
For example, when a neighbor passes by his house, he may assume that the neighbor wants to kill him, but it doesn't.
4. Delusions of jealousy
In this type of delusion, the sufferer believes that his partner is unfaithful to him. However, this is not supported by any facts. Sometimes, people with delusional disorder can become very jealous and obsessive with their partners.
5. Referral delusions
People who have this type of delusion often associate an event with a particular event, even though the two are not related at all. For example, when he sees a cat passing by, he may assume that there will be a major disaster.
6. Strange delusions (bizarre)
This delusional disorder makes sufferers often believe in strange and unreasonable things. For example, he believes that he can become transparent, can talk to animals, or feel his mind is controlled by robots or aliens.
7. Mixed delusions
In this case, the sufferer experiences 2 or more types of delusional disorder, for example a mixture of strange delusions and erotomania.
Various Symptoms of Delusional Disorder
A person is said to be suffering from delusional disorder, if he experiences delusional symptoms for at least 1 month. This disorder can last for several months, but can also be longer with intensity that comes and goes.
Symptoms of delusions can vary from person to person, but generally include:
- Change mood and emotions, such as irritability
- Talking strange and not connecting
- Feeling anxious and being threatened
- Believing in things that don't make sense
- Changes in behavior.
- Hallucinations, for example, people with delusions feel that they often see certain figures, even though that figure is not seen by others.
Delusional disorder can make it difficult for sufferers to have social interactions with others and lead productive lives. In a more serious stage, delusions can appear as a symptom of the mental disorder psychosis. This condition can be dangerous for both the patient and those around him.
Therefore, people who suffer from delusional disorder need to get examination and treatment from a psychiatrist. To check the patient's condition, a psychiatrist can perform a psychiatric examination.
After the cause and type of delusional disorder experienced by the patient is known, the psychiatrist will provide treatment to improve the symptoms and quality of life of the patient. This treatment can be in the form of antipsychotic drugs and psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy.