Psychiatr. praxi. 2021;22(2):e3-e26 | DOI: 10.36290/psy.2021.024

Delusional disorder and its treatment

PhDr. Marie Ocisková, Ph.D.¹, prof. MUDr. Ján Praško, CSc.^{1, 2, 3}, Mgr. František Hodný¹, MUDr. Jakub Vaněk¹, PhDr. Michaela Holubová, Ph.D.^{4, 5}, MUDr. Lucie Bundárová¹, MUDr. Jonáš Boček¹, PhDr. Marta Zaťková, Ph.D.², doc. PhDr. Miloš Šlepecký, CSc.²

¹ Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, Klinika psychiatrie, Lékařská fakulta a Fakultní nemocnice Olomouc

² Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa v Nitre, Fakulta sociálnych vied a zdravotnictva, Katedra psychologických vied, Slovensko

³ Katedra psychoterapie, IPVZ Praha

⁴ Centrum psychiatrie, Krajská nemocnice Liberec

⁵ Katedra pedagogiky a psychologie, Technická univerzita v Liberci, Fakulta přírodovědně-humanitní a pedagogická

Delusional disorder usually presents by a single delusional belief that gradually arises in time or by a system of several interconnected delusions. Delusions can develop from a misrepresentation of real, usually hurtful, degrading, or stressful events. There are several subtypes: persecutory, jealous, erotomaniac, somatic, grandiose, mixed, and non-specific. Delusions can persist for a long time, sometimes for many years. The treatment is usually challenging, as these patients generally do not consider themselves ill and tend to not seek treatment. The therapeutic success heavily relies on a safe and stable therapeutic relationship. One of the psychotherapeutic goals is to motivate the patient to use antipsychotics which are the treatment of choice. Antidepressants may then alleviate symptoms of somatic delusions. Cognitive behavioural therapy has developed strategies for the treatment of chronic delusions. The most specific strategy for changing delusional beliefs is peripheral questioning.

Keywords: delusional disorder, antipsychotics, cognitive behavioural therapy, psychotherapy.

Published: July 9, 2021  Show citation