Delirium, also known as delirant disorder, is the alteration of the content of thought, which occurs when the person firmly believes in an idea that is not the truth.Some of the signs that indicate illusion are believing that you have superpowers or that you are being persecuted by enemies, for example, it is difficult to distinguish the imagination from reality.
Delirium appears in isolation or may be a symptom of people with psychosis, schizophrenia, substance abuse, following a brain injury or in the presence of other mental disorders, so it requires treatment by a psychiatrist; It is also common for delirium to appear accompanied by hallucinations that, rather than ideas, are perceptions of things that don’t exist, such as hearing voices, seeing monsters, or feeling bitten by insects.
- It is important not to confuse delirium with delirium.
- Which is a state of mental confusion associated with changes in brain activity.
- And which usually mainly affects elderly people hospitalized or with dementia.
- Learn more about delirium and its main causes.
There are several types of delirium, the main being
The bearer of this type of illusion believes that he is a victim of persecution and declares that there are enemies who try to kill, poison, defame or want to harm him, without being honest.
In this case, the person believes that he is superior to others, for having an important office or for having fantastic skills, such as having superpowers, being God or the president of the republic, for example.
The person is convinced that an even insignificant event or object has a special meaning.This feels that the center of observation and attention and even the most insignificant of events has a very important meaning.
In this type of illusion, the person is convinced that he is deceived by his partner and begins to see any signs, such as looks, words or attitudes, as proof of his suspicions, which can stimulate the appearance of aggression and domestic violence.
The interested party believes that his actions and thoughts are controlled by another person, a group of people or external forces.You may also believe that you are influenced by radiation, telepathy, or special machines controlled by enemies to damage it.
There are still other types of delirium, such as erotoman, in which the person believes that another person, usually famous, is in love with him, the somatic one, in which there are beliefs about altered bodily sensations, as well as others, such as mysticism or revenge.
In addition, there may be a mixed delusional disorder, in which the types of delusions can vary, without a predominant type.
Delirant disorder is a psychiatric disease, and although its exact causes have not yet been elucidated, its onset is known to be linked to genetic changes, as it is more common in people in the same family, in addition to environmental risk factors, which may include drug use, cranioencephalic trauma, certain infections or negative psychological experiences, for example.
Delirium can also be a symptom that is part of or could be confused with other psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia, schizophrenia disorder, brain damage, obsessive-compulsive disorder, severe depression or bipolar disorder, for example.Learn more about what schizophrenia is and how to identify it.
Confirmation of the diagnosis of delirium is made after the assessment of the psychiatrist, who will observe the signs and symptoms presented, how the patient speaks and, if necessary, will require tests to identify other types of diseases that may influence the case.
Treatment of delirium depends on its cause, and it is usually necessary to use antipsychotic drugs, such as haloperidol or quetiapine, for example antidepressants or tranquilizers, depending on the case, that are indicated by the psychiatrist.
Psychotherapy is also very important, with cognitive behavioral therapy developed by a psychologist.The family may also need help, requiring family council and suggesting support groups.The course of delirium and the duration of treatment vary and can last for hours, days., months or years, depending on the severity and clinical conditions of the patient.
Delirium and hallucination are different symptoms because, while the illusion is believing in something impossible, hallucinations are misperceptions, manifested by sight, hearing, touch or smell, such as seeing dead or monsters, hearing voices, feeling bites or smells that do not exist.For example.
These symptoms can appear separately or together in the same person, and usually occur in the presence of other mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, schizoid disorder, psychosis or drug poisoning, for example.