Empathize with the person and try to understand the purpose behind the delusion. Paraphrase what the person is saying or trying to say to clarify any confusion about the delusion they are describing. Without agreeing or arguing, question the logic or reasoning behind the delusion.
Let the person know that you recognise the feelings that can be evoked by the delusions. For example, you could say: 'It must feel very frightening to think that there is a conspiracy against you. ' Respond to the underlying feelings and encourage discussion of these rather than the content of the delusion.
But when someone is experiencing a psychotic episode, their delusions become fixed. This means that the person has absolutely no doubt that what they think, feel, see, or hear is real. There's nothing you can do or say to convince them otherwise… But you also won't make the delusions more fixed if you talk about them.
Individual psychotherapy: This type of therapy can help a person recognize and correct the underlying thinking that has become distorted. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This is a structured, goal-oriented type of therapy. A mental health professional helps people take a close look at their thoughts and emotions.
If someone you know is having delusions, remember that they will seem very real to that person. It is best not to argue with them, try to persuade them with evidence, or to laugh at them.
The outlook varies. Although the disorder can go away after a short time, delusions also can persist for months or years. The inherent reluctance of a person with this disorder to accept treatment makes the prognosis worse.
More than half of the patients (64 percent) recovered from their long-standing delusions. These were people who had been begun the trial with persistent severe delusions, other troubling psychiatric symptoms, and very low psychological wellbeing — the toughest group to target with a new treatment.
Avoid Challenging Delusions
Delusions feel very real to the person experiencing them, and by simply dismissing them or challenging them you can make him or her retreat and withdraw. Instead, be sensitive while also making sure your loved one realizes that you don't believe the delusion is real.
Do not reason, argue, or challenge the delusion. Attempting to disprove the delusion is not helpful and will create mistrust. Assure the person that they are safe and no harm will come. Do not leave the person alone – use openness and honesty at all times.
You may gently suggest evidence to the contrary, and ask them their opinion. But do not directly tell them they are wrong or delusional, as it will make them resist working with you.
The key feature of a delusion is the degree to which the person is convinced that the belief is true. A person with a delusion will hold firmly to the belief regardless of evidence to the contrary.
The experience of seeing patterns or connections in random or essentially meaningless coincidence and attributing special meaningfulness to these patterns is called apophany, a term originally coined by Klaus Conrad in his 3-stage account of progression to full-blown delusion: trema (or delusional mood), apophany, ...
The typical course of a psychotic episode can be thought of as having three phases: Prodrome Phase, Acute Phase, and Recovery Phase.
Types of delusions include persecutory, erotomanic , grandiose , jealous, somatic, and mixed/unspecific.
Delusions are not usually dangerous. They don't typically lead to violence or outbursts. There is always a risk, though, and it is certainly scary to hear someone you care about talk about things that are not true. Take these steps to protect both you and your loved one, and most of all get professional treatment.
Delusional beliefs are frequently seen following brain injury. The commonest types seen following brain injury are paranoid and persecutory delusional beliefs.
Persecutory delusion
This is the most common form of delusional disorder. In this form, the affected person fears they are being stalked, spied upon, obstructed, poisoned, conspired against or harassed by other individuals or an organization.
The delusional disorder, if left untreated, might lead to depression, often as a consequence of difficulties associated with the delusions. Delusions also can lead to violence or legal issues; for instance, stalking or harassing the object of delusion, could lead to arrest.
A delusion is a belief that a person holds that is not based in reality and is not altered or modified when the person is presented with contradictory evidence. As such, people who are suffering from delusional disorder struggle to align reality with their perceptions of reality.
Some delusions can be very frightening and can make you feel threatened or unsafe. For example, you might feel that something or someone is trying to control, harm or kill you (even when you have no reason to believe this). These ideas are sometimes called paranoid delusions.
Examples of delusions that are non-bizarre include something that could actually happen in real life, like a cheating spouse. On the other hand, examples of delusions that are bizarre include things that could never happen in real life, such as the ability to become invisible.