Causes, symptoms and treatment of paranoid psychosis
A mental disorder in which the distortion of perception of the surrounding world has a vivid expression is called psychosis. It manifests itself in various forms, one of which is paranoid psychosis. It is common for a person with this disorder to project their personal conflicts onto others. In relations with others, he is cold, always keeps his distance, often sees hostility towards himself in the ordinary actions of people. He has a suspicious perception of any event, and this is a reason for aggressive action.
Content:
- Symptoms of paranoid psychosis
- Causes of paranoid psychosis
- Diagnosis of paranoid psychosis
- Treatment for paranoid psychosis
Symptoms of paranoid psychosis
The first signs of this psychosis can be considered suspiciousness without any reason, manifested beyond any measure, constant doubts about the loyalty of the wife, the loyalty of friends, the honesty of business partners, and so on. The comments of people around you are elevated to the rank of personal threats and humiliation. In the actions and actions of a person, inadequacy is observed. The affective reactions accompanying paranoid psychosis may seem delusional to a normal person.
The patient begins to experience a disorder of perception, as well as experiences of a hallucinatory nature. He has a blockage of some thoughts and there is a looseness of associations, a disposition to hypochondria is also present. The patient has thoughts that the world is unusual, objects and people are strange, everyone around him has a negative, prejudiced attitude. The main feature of behavior is dissatisfaction with everyone and everything, rancor, painful perception of even a small failure, an insignificant refusal.
The eccentricity of paranoid psychosis causes a lot of problems for the patient's relatives. Therefore, in order to avoid an exacerbation of the condition when the above symptoms appear in someone close to you, you need to seek help from a psychiatrist or psychotherapist.
Causes of paranoid psychosis
Psychosis in paranoid form refers to psychoses of organic origin. It appears against the background of certain pathologies of a somatic nature already present in the patient. The basis for this psychosis can be traumatic brain damage or cerebral syphilis in a progressive form, or the development of atherosclerosis. Studies have documented the relationship between the onset of psychosis and a biological predisposition in an individual. So paranoia and other types of psychoses are the main types of functional psychosis.
The onset of paranoid psychosis is influenced by the conditions under which it manifests itself. Conditions are understood as factors of metabolic (metabolic processes of the body), somatic (diseases that are caused by external influences or internal disruption of the activity of human organs) and neuroendocrine (diseases of the nervous system and endocrine glands) types, and the influence of constitutional and genetic (hereditary) factors should also not be underestimated. … A separate role in the development of psychosis is assigned to the environment and ontogenetic (the conditions under which the personality was formed) relations.
Diagnosis of paranoid psychosis
Diagnosis of psychosis is carried out by two main methods: external examination of the patient and his questioning. The diagnosis is made in the presence of certain factors: an imbalance in personal positions and disharmony in behavior, related to several areas of the patient's activity. The doctor can state that patients use inadequate protective mechanisms. The diagnosis is confirmed by the patient's complete denial of the need for behavior correction, despite the negative consequences.
Treatment for paranoid psychosis
It is the presence of paranoid psychosis that does not allow all symptoms (character oddities) to reach a high psychotic level, that is, to manifest themselves on a full scale. The patient does not have flattening in emotions and personal manifestations, there is no disturbance in thinking inherent in schizophrenia. Psychosis in a paranoid form is observed mainly in young people. Statistics point to men as the most susceptible to the disease.
There are a number of social restrictions to which the patient subjects himself because of his suspicion, intolerance to criticism, and reputation as a brawler. With this psychosis, the patient will sooner or later find himself in a situation of a certain self-isolation. This condition can take on chronic forms. If you ignore the visit to the doctor, then inappropriate behavior can persist throughout life. Treatment for paranoid psychosis is given after diagnosis.
A long-term psychotherapeutic technique is used, which is aimed at improving life skills in general, improving the quality of social interaction, strengthening the patient's sense of personal dignity. Drug therapy is used to a limited extent. It is possible to use tranquilizers, antidepressants, antipsychotics, but only in case of symptoms that are at an extreme level. In the presence of other diseases that are associated with this psychosis, medications are prescribed by the therapist.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
