JasonM
05-04-2008, 07:19 PM
The diagnostic criteria for a delusional disorder is as follows:
A. Nonbizarre delusions (i.e., involving situations that occur in real life, such as being followed, poisoned, infected, loved at a distance, or deceived by spouse or lover, or having a disease) of at least 1 month's duration.
B. The criteria for Schizophrenia has never been met. Note: Tactile and olfactory hallucinations may be present in Delusional Disorder if they are related to the delusional theme.
C. Apart from the impact of the delusion(s) or its ramifications, functioning is not markedly impaired and behavior is not obviously odd or bizarre.
D. If mood episodes have occurred concurrently with delusions, their total duration has been brief relative to the duration of the delusional periods.
E. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.
Suppose you're a psychiatrist. Someone comes to your office with the belief that they have a delusional disorder that's lasted for at least a month, and criteria B through E have been met. Do they have a delusion?
Suppose that it's a delusion. Then they have a delusional disorder. However, the belief is that they have a delusional disorder, so it can't be a delusion.
Suppose that it's not a delusion. Then they don't have a delusional disorder. However, since they believe that they have a delusional disorder, it has to be a delusion.
Therefore, since the determination of whether or not it is a delusion is critical for making a diagnosis, how can you come to any conclusion?
(Does anyone now want to go to their doctor presenting this symptom?)
A. Nonbizarre delusions (i.e., involving situations that occur in real life, such as being followed, poisoned, infected, loved at a distance, or deceived by spouse or lover, or having a disease) of at least 1 month's duration.
B. The criteria for Schizophrenia has never been met. Note: Tactile and olfactory hallucinations may be present in Delusional Disorder if they are related to the delusional theme.
C. Apart from the impact of the delusion(s) or its ramifications, functioning is not markedly impaired and behavior is not obviously odd or bizarre.
D. If mood episodes have occurred concurrently with delusions, their total duration has been brief relative to the duration of the delusional periods.
E. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.
Suppose you're a psychiatrist. Someone comes to your office with the belief that they have a delusional disorder that's lasted for at least a month, and criteria B through E have been met. Do they have a delusion?
Suppose that it's a delusion. Then they have a delusional disorder. However, the belief is that they have a delusional disorder, so it can't be a delusion.
Suppose that it's not a delusion. Then they don't have a delusional disorder. However, since they believe that they have a delusional disorder, it has to be a delusion.
Therefore, since the determination of whether or not it is a delusion is critical for making a diagnosis, how can you come to any conclusion?
(Does anyone now want to go to their doctor presenting this symptom?)