Life can be lived in many ways. It is common for us to go through experiences according to our values, beliefs and ideals. As we grow, we interact with different people from whom we learn, since human beings constantly go through unique and novel moments. Although sometimes we may think that society is built so that we act accordingly, based on scenarios that other people plan, the truth is that there are those who believe that their life is immersed within a kind of reality show. Does any of this sound familiar to you?
Film productions have been made that exemplify these qualities, however, there may be people who are certain that their life is part of a television show in which they are the protagonists. This causes a series of problems that must be considered. Do you want to know more about this? In this Psychology-Online article, we will provide you with information about Truman syndrome: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment.
What is Truman syndrome
When we refer to Truman syndrome, we are talking about a personality disorder in which the person who suffers from it manifests delusional and persecutory traits. In other words, it is a clinical condition in which the person feels that they are immersed in a show of which they are the main protagonist.
Because of these circumstances, Truman syndrome can cause difficulty in the relationship with the environment. Although it is true that this clinical condition is not detailed in the classification made by the DSM-V, it could be understood that it has characteristics related to psychotic disorders of personality.
Symptoms of Truman syndrome
One of the most relevant aspects to consider are the manifestations, both physical and emotional, which arise from Truman syndrome. These allow establishing a diagnosis that facilitates the detection of the clinical picture. Specifically, the main symptoms of Truman syndrome are:
- Feeling that the environment is against you.
- Nervousness.
- Persecutory ideas.
- .
- Visual and auditory hallucinations.
- Feelings of greatness.
Despite the presence of any of these symptoms, this does not imply that we are facing Truman syndrome. It is important that the diagnosis be carried out by a mental health professionalsince it will be in charge of evaluating the characteristics of the person taking into account traits such as age, sex, family history or pre-existing diseases, among others.
Causes of Truman syndrome
Beyond the symptoms that may occur in each person, it is crucial to know the causes that give rise to this personality disorder. In this sense, below, we will explain the main causes of Truman syndrome:
- Environmental factors: moments of childhood in which family life has been marked by traumatic situations with violence or abuse, among others. This results in the person suffering from personality disorders in which they believe that they are the protagonist of everything that happens around them, as can occur in a reality show.
- Need for attention and approval Permanent presence of people from the environment plays a key role in this pathology.
- Genetic factors: Personality disorders, which present both delusions and hallucinations, have a neurological component, since there are certain neural connections located in which they are responsible for processing information from the environment. This results in the symptoms described above.
Truman syndrome treatment
Fortunately, there are currently a series of treatments that are effective against the clinical picture of Truman syndrome. Specifically, the following methods are used to treat this syndrome:
Psychological therapy
People with Truman syndrome interpret what happens to them in a certain way. In these cases, psychotherapy sessions can help you deal with situations that trigger stress, anxiety and/or fear in a different way. These are the therapies that are most used:
- Short-term therapies: focused on solving problems in a limited period of sessions using various strategies. Their purpose is to provide the patient with tools so that he can change his perspective of reality. In this group, the main therapies to take into account are systemic therapy such as .
- Long-term therapies: They look for the origin of the symptoms so that the patient finds other ways to deal with situations that cause discomfort. Here we can highlight psychoanalytic therapy as one of the main ones.
Psychiatric medication
Given that some of the symptoms of Truman syndrome can be delusions and hallucinations, in some cases it is necessary to administer psychiatric medication that makes changes to neuronal connections. The ultimate goal of this type of treatment is reduce the symptoms involved. However, it should always be taken under medical prescription supervised by a psychologist.
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 Truman syndrome: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatmentwe recommend that you enter our category.
References
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders (5th edition). Arlington: Panamericana Medical Publishing.
Bibliography
- Morales Arce, A., Alvarado Rojas, S., Calvo Brenes, M., Contreras Rojas, J., Raventós Vorst, H. (2012). An approach to the cultural content of the delusions of people with schizophrenia in Costa Rica. Anthropology Notebooks, 22 (1), 1-24.