The Psychology of Delusions

A belief that is obviously false and denotes an anomaly in the affected person’s mental content is called a delusion. The person’s intelligence level or cultural or religious background do not explain the false belief. The degree to which the person is persuaded that the belief is true is the essential characteristic of a delusion. When someone is deluded, they will not let go of their beliefs even in the face of contradicting information. Overvalued ideas are irrational beliefs that a person holds, but the affected person has at least some degree of doubt about their veracity. Delusions can be hard to distinguish from overvalued ideas.When someone has a delusion, they firmly believe it to be true. Delusions can indicate a mental, neurological, or medical condition.

Reason behind delusion occurrence?

Studying delusional disorder is challenging due to its rarity. Although the exact cause is unknown, some research indicates that delusions may arise as a coping mechanism for extreme stress or trauma from the past.

Genetics:

Delusional disorder development may also be influenced by genetics. People who have family members about schizophrenia or as schizotypal personality disorder have a higher probability to be considered for delusional disorder. Delusions may also be caused by chemical imbalances or anomalies in the brain.

Also Read: Covid-19 Linked to New Schizophrenia Spectrum: Study

Defensive or Motivated Delusions:

According to the researchers, delusions arise from a defense mechanism or a desire to maintain a positive self-image by attributing any bad events to other people or external factors. Other elements that might be involved in delusions include:

• Culture and religion: Although prevalence varies via time, place, and religion, delusions pertaining to spirituality, magic, and religion are common in psychotic disorders.
• Low socioeconomic status: Individuals with lower socioeconomic status in the general population have been linked to delusional experiences. This could be because this population experiences higher levels of stress and psychological distress.
• Being hearing or sight impaired: Studies have indicated that individuals with hearing impairments have an increased susceptibility to psychosis and schizophrenia. One explanation is that people with hearing or vision impairments may misinterpret their surroundings and therefore see social environments as dangerous.

Delusional Disorder:

A person with delusional disorder suffers from one or more deeply held false beliefs that have persisted for at least one month. These false beliefs—such as being followed or thinking their spouse is unfaithful—are not strange and may actually occur in real life. Individuals suffering from delusional disorder are capable and frequently work. Their actions are not regarded as odd. The following are risk factors for delusional disorder development:

• An antecedent paranoid personality condition
• A history of schizophrenia in the family
• Aging (middle or late adulthood)

Delusional Disorder vs. Schizophrenia

Unlike schizophrenia, delusional disorder is characterized by delusions without any of the other psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations, disordered speech, or disordered behavior. Additionally, while people with psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, frequently have strange delusions, people with delusional disorder have delusions that could actually happen in real life.

Delusion vs Self-Deception

Being deluded is not the same as self-deception—erroneous thoughts, emotions, or circumstances that one may accept as true out of personal prejudice. The daily functioning of an individual is disrupted by delusions.

Delusions vs. Hallucinations

The primary distinction between the two is that hallucinations are sensory experiences in which one hears, sees, smells, or feels things that are not actually there, whereas delusions are unwavering beliefs (thoughts) that aren’t real.

Is the Individual Aware That They Are Having a Delusion?

Individuals suffering from delusional disorder do not think they are delusional. No matter how much unmistakable evidence contradicts their delusion, they are unable to accept that it is illogical or inaccurate.

Also Read: Owning cats might increase risk of developing schizophrenia: Study

Diagnosing Delusions

A physical examination is the first step in the diagnostic process for delusions or delusional disorder in order to rule out medical conditions. Along with getting a medical history, your healthcare provider will also inquire about your symptoms. Second, a mental health professional will separate overvalued ideas from delusions. A delusion is a fixed, false belief that is not shared by others, whereas an overvalued idea is a rigidly held belief that is shared by others in a person’s culture or subculture. In the event that delusions are real, the clinician will work to confirm the existence of a specific mental illness or another condition that the delusions could be a sign of.

For instance, the following are the DSM-5 criteria for delusional disorder:

• A month or more is spent with one or more delusions present.
• It has never been possible to meet the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia. If they occur, hallucinations are not overt and are obviously connected thematically to the theme of delusions.
• Other than the effects of the delusion(s) or their consequences, the patient’s functioning is not significantly compromised, and their behavior is not conspicuously strange or peculiar.
• If there have been manic or major depressive episodes, they are relatively short in comparison to the length of the symptoms of delusions.
• The disruption cannot be more accurately attributed to a systemic medical condition, the physiological effects of a substance or medication, or any other mental illness, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Also Read: 6 Reasons People Make False Accusations and How to Deal with it

Treatment options for delusions could be:

• A person with delusional beliefs may benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help them identify and alter harmful ideas and behaviors.
• Family counseling can teach a partner or other family member how to help a loved one who is exhibiting delusional thoughts or behaviors.
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can support an individual living with delusions even though they are not shared by others.

In certain cases, hospitalization might be necessary if the delusional individual poses a risk to others or themselves

It can be difficult to identify and treat delusions, particularly when the person experiencing them is unaware that their beliefs are unfounded. It’s crucial to remember that some delusional people may not want to receive treatment, which can make starting therapy challenging. When delusions do not substantially interfere with daily functioning, people might not think that therapy is required. When this happens, family members and friends can encourage the person to get help by being kind and understanding, especially if their delusions are endangering them. In general, it’s critical to treat people who are delusional with empathy and understanding, and to collaborate with mental health specialists to create a treatment plan that best promotes their well-being.