The Concept of Delusional Disorders

Mood symptoms are common in persons with delusional disorder and often represent a proportionate emotional response to perceived delusional experiences. However, given that mood disorders are common in the general population, they may present as comorbid conditions, often predating delusional disorder. Mood symptoms of mood disorders contrary to mood symptoms of delusional disorder are prominent and meet criteria for a full mood episode (depressive, manic, or mixed). Delusions associated with mood disorders usually develop after the onset of mood symptoms and progress secondary to mood abnormalities. Mood symptoms of delusional disorder are generally mild and delusions usually exist in the absence of mood abnormalities. Delusions of schizophrenia are bizarre in nature, and thematically associated hallucinations are common. Additionally, a disorganized thought process, speech, or behavior is present. Negative symptoms and deterioration in function are prominent and Cognitive deficits are common.

The concept of the delusional disorder has both a very short history, formally, but a very long history when one integrates reports and observations over the last 150 years. The term of delusional disorder was only coined in 1977. Manschreck (2000) used this term to describe an illness with persistent delusions and stable course, separate though from delusions that occur in other medical and psychiatric conditions. However, the concept of paranoia has been used for centuries. Originally, the word paranoia comes from Greek para, meaning along side, and nous, meaning mind intelligence (Munro, 1999). The Greeks used this term to describe any mental abnormalities similar to how we use the word insanity. In the modern world, the term reappeared ...

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