Surely, on some occasion you have been called paranoid or have thought that someone is paranoid. This term is generally used lightly since paranoia is the main symptom of delusional disorder or persecutory delusions (or persecutory mania). At a general level, paranoia consists of the unshakeable belief that something happens or that something is a certain way despite the evidence showing the opposite, so no evidence would change the person’s mind.
Delusional disorder, also known as paranoid psychosis, to which the subtype of persecutory mania or delusion of persecution would belong, is based on situations that could occur. That is, delirium does not consist of something fantasy. However, this does not imply that that person is correct, but rather that he or she makes a wrong interpretation of reality.
Keep reading Psychology-Online to understand What is persecution mania and what are its symptoms and treatment?. We will see what persecution mania means, what its causes are and how to help someone who has it.
What is persecution mania?
People with persecutory mania or delusions of persecution are convinced that they themselves or someone close to them are being persecuted, spied on or that a conspiracy is being carried out. Furthermore, they interpret all of this to be with the purpose of doing them some harm.
This belief remains despite evidence to the contrary. Furthermore, any act, gesture, or event that occurs either in their presence or witnessed on television, for example, would be interpreted as a demonstration that their belief has a well-founded basis. In some cases, this belief develops in the sense that they think that it is in the interest of others to ridicule them.
In this article we explain and expose all types of delusions, which include delusions of persecution or persecutory mania.
Causes of persecution mania
Persecutory mania is a delusion. Delusions have several causes, including:
- Psychotic disorders. This type of delusional disorder is often a symptom of , although this is not always the case and can be a disorder in its own right. Persecution mania can be due to an illness. It can also appear in manic episodes of bipolar disorder or in depressive disorders with psychotic symptoms.
- Substance use. On the other hand, the consumption of psychoactive substances is another cause of psychotic symptoms such as persecution mania.
- Cognitive impairment. Another possible cause of delusions is dementia.
Symptoms of persecution mania
What is a paranoid person like? Some of the most common symptoms of people with this type of delusions are:
- The presence of an idea unwavering beliefwith no way to make him think otherwise.
- If someone asks him about what is happening to him, the person tends not to give information, he even becomes suspicious of the person who asks him as if he were part of the conspiracy.
- The idea affects the life of the individual and in all its areas, including work, social and family, since in general that idea does not disappear at any time.
- This condition is due to the individual focusing part of their time to look for evidence of his delirium.
- Everything that happens to a person ends relating to his delirium.
- This belief you have, although it could be real in a hypothetical case, is highly unlikely.
- Any comment or action towards his delirium affects him greatly, which is why he appears hypersensitive before him.
- Typically, when questioned about the veracity of his delusion, he reacts aggressive.
- Mood irritable or depressed.
- In response to the delusion, the person ends up acquiring a somewhat extravagant and strange.
- Social isolation due to his distrust of others.
- Fatigue due to constant worry about his delirium.
- Fear constant as well as anxiety in many cases.
Treatment of persecution mania
Do delusions have treatment? What is the therapy for persecution mania?
Pharmacotherapy
It is quite common to use antipsychotics like risperidone and antidepressants in order to reduce delusions. Although this medication is usually only temporarily effective in this type of problem. Furthermore, due to the nature of the disorder, the patient may come to think that his psychiatrist is part of a conspiracy and therefore refuse to take the medication or stop taking it after a while.
In some cases, it is also appropriate to use some anxiolytics such as benzodiazepines since the disorder can produce high levels of anxiety.
Psychological treatment
As a general rule, the techniques of cognitive-behavioral therapy are applied to these types of problems. This consists of the person writing down and expressing everything about his or her delusions and, little by little, the psychologist and patient highlight the irrational ideas that he is having and go restructuring your thoughts as well as his behavior regarding delirium.
In any case, the ideal is a combined treatment since in addition, the psychologist is essential for adherence to the pharmacological treatment.
Another type of exercises that would be performed in psychotherapy is social skills training so that the person can reintegrate into society.
How to help a person with persecution mania? To help a paranoid person, the most important thing is to go to professionals, offer support and not confront or validate the delusion.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Persecutory mania: definition, symptoms and treatmentwe recommend that you enter our category.
Bibliography
- American Psychiatric Association. Paranoid personality disorder. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. 2013:649-652.
- Blais MA, Smallwood P, Groves JE, Rivas-Vazquez RA, Hopwood CJ. Personality and personality disorders. In: Stern TA, Fava M, Wilens TE, Rosenbaum JF, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 39.