Not many people know what persecutory nonsense is. This symptom accompanies a disease such as schizophrenia. This is nonsense stalking, which is a symptom of a serious mental disorder. Those suffering from these diseases can be dangerous for others, so not only psychiatrists, but also doctors of other specialties should pay attention to their identification and treatment.
What is persecutory nonsense
The delusional symptoms associated with the persecution can affect all areas of life and activity of a sick person. The nonsense of the persecution is closely connected with the ideas that someone is trying to harm him or his property, thinks out and systematically implements the plan of murder, plans to take possession of the property, steal the savings, humiliates or mocks, avenges, peeps, wants to take his wife / husband away, plans to reproach him jail and so on.
Participants in the delirium can be relatives, neighbors, law enforcement officers, doctors, service workers and housing and communal services, as well as non-existent characters, for example, aliens, witches, ghosts, “dark forces”.
Depending on the disease, delusional symptoms can have a clear line associated with life circumstances, or they can fantastically change to fantastic absurd pictures.
What diseases are delusions of prosecution
The most common disease characteristic of this delirium is paranoid schizophrenia.
Alcoholic psychosis associated with the abolition of alcohol, which was previously taken for several days, can cause delusional symptoms with the development of ideas of persecution and exposure.
Chronic delusional disorders can haunt a person throughout his life, including in the form of delusions of persecution. Unlike schizophrenia, delirium has a clear structure, is devoid of pretentiousness and can be so real that it can be difficult to refute it.
With vascular dementia, delusional symptoms can overlap with the main manifestations of the disease in the elderly.
Clinical manifestations of schizophrenia
Paranoid schizophrenia develops at a young age and has a hereditary character.
Symptoms of delusions of persecution can be outlined with ornate details that have nothing in common with ordinary life. Auditory and visual hallucinations may be present. The delusions of persecution in schizophrenia are accompanied by fear, anxiety and anxiety. It constantly seems to the patient that something is threatening him. To argue him there is not the slightest chance. In the acute state, such patients are dangerous, as they can even attack the suspected object in an attempt to "defend themselves." For themselves, these patients are also dangerous, because, fleeing the "enemy", they can jump out the window or rush under the wheels of the car.
Delusional symptoms in alcoholism
Persecutory delirium can develop in individuals who abuse alcohol, with the abolition of alcohol. Often this happens when the binge is interrupted, but sometimes delirium occurs against the background of residual alcohol consumption. This should be remembered by doctors of somatic hospitals, where drinking patients with various pathologies often end up.
Delusional symptoms in such patients are often associated with mythical characters, which can also be reflected in hallucinations. Examples of delusions of persecution among alcoholics are the presence of devils and other intimidating objects that are trying to do harm. Therefore, these patients should be kept on the ground floor, or in rooms where it is not possible to open the windows, or there are bars to prevent them from jumping out into the street in the "fever."
Pursuit ideas for chronic delusional disorders and vascular dementia
Chronic delusional disorder in psychiatric patients often involves harassment ideas related to households and neighbors. They are not amenable to persuasion and poorly adjusted medically. Such patients will talk about life's troubles to everyone they meet, complaining about relatives, children, neighbors. Delirium in this case is clearly structured and very similar to the truth, if you do not go into details. A survey of relatives in this case helps to understand the situation and take action. Often the "culprits" of delusional influences themselves bring their loved one suffering from a mental disorder to an appointment with a doctor.
Patients with vascular dementia can express persecution ideas that explain poorly because of mental disorders. Delirium can be steep, poorly structured, devoid of colors. More often, dementia patients include relatives of people who live nearby in delusional stories. Sometimes they fear the persecution of relatives who have already died. Such patients should be carefully monitored so that they do not leave the house or medical institution, because due to memory impairment it will be impossible for them to find the return path.
Help with Delusional Disorders
If you suspect persecutory delirium of a person should be shown to a psychiatrist. This can be done both on an outpatient basis and at home. The doctor will prescribe antipsychotic drugs that will block delusional symptoms. Such patients are regular customers of psychiatric clinics, therefore, in order to avoid worsening of their condition, they should take medication regularly. Relatives or carers should clearly understand the behavior of patients and their treatment.
If there is a threat to the life and health of the people around or the patient’s condition, they should urgently be hospitalized in a hospital, where an attack of exacerbation is stopped by medications.