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Psychiatry, Psychology, and Law : An... 2022This study investigates the relationship of delusional disorder and its subtypes to criminal and violent behavior by comparing the sociodemographic and clinical...
This study investigates the relationship of delusional disorder and its subtypes to criminal and violent behavior by comparing the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients with and without a criminal history and identifying predictors of crime. The records of 346 patients with a delusional disorder diagnosis were retrospectively evaluated using a sociodemographic data form, a crime violence rating scale and the Overt Aggression Scale (OAS). The results show that homicide and attempted homicide were committed more frequently by patients with jealous delusions, whereas verbal assault and crimes against the public were committed more frequently by patients with persecutory and other delusions. Patients with a criminal history had more hospital admissions and longer stays. Marital status, persecutory delusions, a high OAS score and older age were found to be associated with higher risk of crime. Clinical subtypes and sociodemographic characteristics seem to discriminate delusional disorder patients' risk of crime.
PubMed: 35903497
DOI: 10.1080/13218719.2021.1956386 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2023Despite an increasing number of adults older than 60 years with psychiatric disorders, there are few studies on older patients in psychiatric emergencies and no...
Despite an increasing number of adults older than 60 years with psychiatric disorders, there are few studies on older patients in psychiatric emergencies and no European data. We aimed to describe the population of patients aged 60 years and older who presented to the main French psychiatric emergency centre and identify predictors of psychiatric hospitalization. This monocentric study included 300 consecutive patients aged 60 years and older. Patients presenting because of psychiatric emergencies were frequently female and lived autonomously. More than 40% had a history of at least one psychiatric hospitalization and 44% had consulted a psychiatrist in the previous 6 months. The most common reasons for consultation were depression, anxiety, sleep disorders and suicidal thoughts. Psychiatric disorders were mainly mood disorders; neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders; and schizophrenic, schizotypal and delusional disorders. Only 10% had a diagnosis of organic mental disorders. Overall, 39% of the patients were admitted to the psychiatric hospital. Factors predicting hospitalization were a history of psychiatric hospitalization, suicidal thoughts and a diagnosis of a mood disorder or schizophrenia/schizotypal/delusional disorder. In conclusion, among people aged 60 years and older who consulted for psychiatric emergencies, 39% had to be hospitalized in psychiatry and only psychiatric factors influenced the decision to hospitalize. Our study highlights the need for further studies of older people in psychiatric emergencies in Europe, to anticipate the needs of this specific population and adapt multidisciplinary mental health care.
PubMed: 38161722
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1298497 -
Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2021Although blockade of dopamine receptors D2 and D3 appears to be the main mechanism of antipsychotic action, treatment response variability calls for an examination of... (Review)
Review
Dopamine, Serotonin, and Structure/Function Brain Defects as Biological Bases for Treatment Response in Delusional Disorder: A Systematic Review of Cases and Cohort Studies.
Although blockade of dopamine receptors D2 and D3 appears to be the main mechanism of antipsychotic action, treatment response variability calls for an examination of other biological systems. Our aim is to systematically review reports of treatment response in delusional disorder (DD) in order to help determine its biological bases. Computerized searches of ClinicalTrials.gov, PubMed, and Scopus databases (from 1999 to September 2021) were systematically reviewed, in keeping with PRISMA directives. We used the search terms: (treat * OR therap * AND (delusional disorder)). We included all studies that explored the biological mechanisms of treatment response in DD, as diagnosed by ICD or DSM criteria. A total of 4344 records were initially retrieved, from which 14 papers were included: case reports, case series, and cohort studies. Findings point to (1) dopaminergic dysfunction (based on biochemical and genetic studies), (2) serotonergic dysfunction (based on partial agonism/antagonism of drugs), and (3) brain structure/function impairment, especially in the temporal and parietal lobes, as crucial factors in treatment response. Further studies with higher levels of evidence are needed to help clinicians determine treatment.
PubMed: 34677234
DOI: 10.3390/bs11100141 -
Cureus Aug 2018The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) characterizes delusional disorder (DD) by the presence of delusions for longer than one...
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) characterizes delusional disorder (DD) by the presence of delusions for longer than one month, without bizarre behavior or functional impairment. According to Kaplan and Saddock, the lifetime prevalence of DD (all subtypes) is about 0.2%. The persecutory subtype of delusional disorder (DD-PS) is the most common and the somatic subtype (DD-SS) is exceedingly rare. We aim to describe two cases of patients with somatic delusions, both presenting as imminently dangerous and threatening. We also discuss one case that resulted from our extensive literature review where somatic delusions were implicated in elevating a mass shooter's violence risk. Both patients whose cases are presented were involuntarily hospitalized after their doctors called 911 to report that they were being threatened by a weapon. These patients had no established psychiatric diagnoses and were evaluated thoroughly and diagnosed with DD-SS. Both perceived that their physicians were indifferent to their needs and cited their frustration as the trigger for planning attacks on the doctors. Unlike PS, SS is not traditionally described as increasing danger or risk of violence, and thorough risk assessments are not usually performed in DD-SS. We demonstrate that formal psychiatric violence risk assessments remain a useful tool to methodically stratify and effectively address risk, even in patients we do not typically expect to demonstrate premeditated violence.
PubMed: 30364849
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.3186 -
Clocks & Sleep Oct 2020Sleep disturbances accompany almost all mental illnesses, either because sound sleep and mental well-being share similar requisites, or because mental problems lead to... (Review)
Review
Sleep disturbances accompany almost all mental illnesses, either because sound sleep and mental well-being share similar requisites, or because mental problems lead to sleep problems, or vice versa. The aim of this narrative review was to examine sleep in patients with delusions, particularly in those diagnosed with delusional disorder. We did this in sequence, first for psychiatric illness in general, then for psychotic illnesses where delusions are prevalent symptoms, and then for delusional disorder. The review also looked at the effect on sleep parameters of individual symptoms commonly seen in delusional disorder (paranoia, cognitive distortions, suicidal thoughts) and searched the evidence base for indications of antipsychotic drug effects on sleep. It subsequently evaluated the influence of sleep therapies on psychotic symptoms, particularly delusions. The review's findings are clinically important. Delusional symptoms and sleep quality influence one another reciprocally. Effective treatment of sleep problems is of potential benefit to patients with persistent delusions, but may be difficult to implement in the absence of an established therapeutic relationship and an appropriate pharmacologic regimen. As one symptom can aggravate another, comorbidities in patients with serious mental illness all need to be treated, a task that requires close liaison among medical specialties.
PubMed: 33118525
DOI: 10.3390/clockssleep2040030 -
Schizophrenia Bulletin Mar 2017This review traces, through psychiatric textbooks, the history of the Kraepelinian concept of paranoia in the 20th century and then relates the common reported symptoms... (Review)
Review
This review traces, through psychiatric textbooks, the history of the Kraepelinian concept of paranoia in the 20th century and then relates the common reported symptoms and signs to the diagnostic criteria for paranoia/delusional disorder in DSM-III through DSM-5. Clinical descriptions of paranoia appearing in 10 textbooks, published 1899 to 1970, revealed 11 prominent symptoms and signs reported by 5 or more authors. Three symptoms (systematized delusions, minimal hallucinations, and prominent ideas of reference) and 2 signs (chronic course and minimal affective deterioration) were reported by 8 or 9 of the authors. Four textbook authors rejected the Kraepelinian concept of paranoia. A weak relationship was seen between the frequency with which the clinical features were reported and the likelihood of their inclusion in modern DSM manuals. Indeed, the diagnostic criteria for paranoia/delusional disorder shifted substantially from DSM-III to DSM-5. The modern operationalized criteria for paranoia/delusional disorder do not well reflect the symptoms and signs frequently reported by historical experts. In contrast to results of similar reviews for depression, schizophrenia and mania, the clinical construct of paranoia/delusional disorder has been somewhat unstable in Western Psychiatry since the turn of the 20th century as reflected in both textbooks and the DSM editions.
Topics: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; History, 20th Century; Humans; Paranoid Disorders; Schizophrenia, Paranoid
PubMed: 28003468
DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbw161 -
Journal of Neurosciences in Rural... 2018Trihexyphenidyl is an anticholinergic medication that is routinely used for the management of extrapyramidal symptoms in patients who receive antipsychotic medications....
Trihexyphenidyl is an anticholinergic medication that is routinely used for the management of extrapyramidal symptoms in patients who receive antipsychotic medications. Trihexyphenidyl has been reported to be abused by some patients, who start to take it in increasing doses and tend to report a sensation of relaxation or pleasure with this medication. Hence, whether trihexyphenidyl should be considered a psychoactive substance and whether nonprescription misuse of this medication should be considered under the purview of substance use disorders need further clarity. We present here two cases of trihexyphenidyl misuse which developed in the context of persistent delusional disorders and highlight the challenges in diagnosis in such a situation.
PubMed: 30069107
DOI: 10.4103/jnrp.jnrp_569_17 -
Clinical Practice and Cases in... Nov 2019Delusional parasitosis is an uncommon psychiatric disorder that manifests as having parasitic delusions. Due to its rarity, delusional parasitosis is a challenging and...
Delusional parasitosis is an uncommon psychiatric disorder that manifests as having parasitic delusions. Due to its rarity, delusional parasitosis is a challenging and costly diagnosis of exclusion and proves difficult to manage for many providers. Although this syndrome is frequently discussed in psychiatric and dermatology reports, it is not commonly described in emergency medicine (EM) literature. As a result, best practices for workup and treatment remain unclear from an EM perspective. Patients typically return multiple times for medical evaluation and exhaust numerous resources. In this case report we review the appropriate steps for initial evaluation of patients with suspected delusional parasitosis, differential diagnoses, and increase awareness for prudent treatment strategies.
PubMed: 31763595
DOI: 10.5811/cpcem.2019.8.44619 -
Schizophrenia Research Feb 2021Little is known on the effective pharmacological treatment of delusional disorder.
BACKGROUND
Little is known on the effective pharmacological treatment of delusional disorder.
AIMS
Study the comparative effectiveness of pharmacotherapies in the prevention of hospitalization due to psychosis and work disability in delusional disorder.
METHODS
Observational registry based cohort study including everyone in Sweden diagnosed with delusional disorder (N = 9076;mean follow-up time 4.9 years). The primary analysis was Cox Proportional Hazards within-individual analysis. Results are reported as adjusted hazard ratios (HRs).
RESULTS
Among the cohort (4835 males/4241 females;mean [SD] age 44.1 [12.5] years), 2074 persons had at least one hospitalization due to psychosis. Risk for hospitalization due to psychosis was 46% lower when any antipsychotic was used (HR 0.54, 95%CI 0.38-0.77, p < 0.001). Use of clozapine (HR 0.24, 95%CI 0.07-0.77, p = 0.016), any long-acting injectable (LAI; HR 0.28, 95%CI 0.16-0.49, p < 0.0001) and oral olanzapine (HR 0.36, 95%CI 0.20-0.67, p = 0.001) were associated with lowest risk. Among those not on disability pension at start of follow-up (n = 5025), in comparison to no use of antipsychotics, use of clozapine (HR 0.08, 95%CI 0.01-0.52, p = 0.008), any LAI (HR 0.44, 95%CI 0.25-0.79, p = 0.006) and oral aripiprazole (HR 0.52, 95%CI 0.31-0.85, p = 0.009) were associated with lowest risk of work disability.
CONCLUSIONS
Use of antipsychotics was associated with a reduced risk of hospitalization due to psychosis and work disability in delusional disorder, with use of clozapine and long-acting injectables being associated with the lowest risk for these very relevant end-points for both individual suffering and costs to society. Clinical trials with these treatments are urgently needed to make informed clinical treatment recommendations.
Topics: Adult; Antipsychotic Agents; Clozapine; Cohort Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Schizophrenia, Paranoid; Sweden
PubMed: 33548837
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2021.01.015 -
Clocks & Sleep Feb 2022While the early identification of insomnia in patients with schizophrenia is of clinical relevance, the use of specific compounds to treat insomnia has been studied less... (Review)
Review
While the early identification of insomnia in patients with schizophrenia is of clinical relevance, the use of specific compounds to treat insomnia has been studied less in postmenopausal women with schizophrenia. We aimed to explore the effects of melatonin, sex hormones, and raloxifene for the treatment of insomnia in these populations. Although melatonin treatment improved the quality and efficiency of the sleep of patients with schizophrenia, few studies have explored its use in postmenopausal women with schizophrenia. The estrogen and progesterone pathways are dysregulated in major psychiatric disorders, such as in schizophrenia. While, in the context of menopause, a high testosterone-to-estradiol ratio is associated with higher frequencies of depressive symptoms, the effects of estradiol and other sex hormones on sleep disorders in postmenopausal women with schizophrenia has not been sufficiently investigated. Raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, has shown positive effects on sleep disorders in postmenopausal women. Future studies should investigate the effectiveness of hormonal compounds on insomnia in postmenopausal women with schizophrenia.
PubMed: 35225953
DOI: 10.3390/clockssleep4010007