A Family Doctor's Tale - PARANOIA

DOC I HAVE PARANOIA

Paranoia is defined as the psychotic disorders characterized by persistent delusions of persecution by other people.

Cause is unknown.
Develops slowly and is complex logically elaborated delusions.
Seen in patient of superior or unique ability.
Basic personality is intact and preserved.
Hallucinations not present.

Paranoid states:
1.Paranoid:
Delusions lack logical and systemic nature
2.Paranoid schizophrenia:
Delusions bizarre or fragmented
3.Duration is shorter than paranoid
4.Associated with disabilities such as deafness, alcoholism, social deprivation, amphetamine abuse

Symptoms:
1.Jealousy rests on unreasonable evidence
2.patients denies their own wishes and project on their lowers
3.Eroticsm:
persons that patients project emotion to may be real (but not true social contacts) or imagined
4.Grandiosity:
patient regress to an omnipotent idea of himself
5.Persecution:
deep distrust of others
patients project own hostility towards people
They feel they live in a threatening world amy react or attack to defend themselves

Treatment:
Hospitalization may be necessary in a few cases
Psychotherapy is the most important mode of treatment
Tranquillizers may be necessary in some cases
Phenothiazine are useful in paranoid psychotic states

Prognosis
usualy poor (incurable)
Paranoid reaction may be improved with prolonged psychotherapy
Persecutory paranoid patient may be dangerous to others