Psychiatrical disorder in which the person experiences constant delirium but other psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations don't affect them. It is a rare condition present in only a 0.2% of the general population.
The cause is unknown but is believed to have a genetic, environmental and stress-related component associated.
Symptoms include false and persistent beliefs that cannot be explained through that person's culture or religion (delirium). These beliefs can be of different types, such as persecutory, stemming from jealousy, delusions of grandeur or erotomania, among others.
To reach a diagnosis, the symptoms must be present for at least a month and it is taken into account the clinical history and the progression of the symptoms. It is important to rule out other delirium causing factors such as drugs or alcohol.
Treatment is based off of psychological therapy and anti-psychotics.
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), Washington, DC 2022.
- de Portugal E, González N, Haro JM, et al. A descriptive case-register study of delusional disorder. Eur Psychiatry 2008; 23:125.Manschreck TC.
- Delusional disorder and shared psychotic disorder. In: Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, 7th ed, Kaplan HI, Sadock BJ (Eds), Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, MD 2000. Vol 1, p.1243.Kendler KS.
- Demography of paranoid psychosis (delusional disorder): a review and comparison with schizophrenia and affective illness. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1982; 39:890.
