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What Are The Symptoms Of Delusional Disorder?
Question: my 57 year old brother has in the last 4 days become delusional. He believes the FBI is spying on him with cameras in trees and light poles. He thinks all electronic devices are used to send signals to devices implanted in his ear which he uses foil to block this. he believes in his mind that his stories are true, yet will talk normal about others, there work, family, what they did yesterday, or last week. He has had lyme disease, is hypoglycemic, alzheimers is in our family, never taken any drugs, not on any medication. will not go and see doctor at this time because he thinks he is ok.
Brief Answer:
probable psychosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns for your brother.
You are probably right in judging his condition that he has become delusional.
The symptoms like FBI spying on him through cameras and sending signals is very much suggestive of delusional disorder, probably psychosis.
He thinks he is ok and does not want to visit a doctor.
In such cases, the patients are usually unwilling to go to a doctor as they donot have insight about their illness. There is loss of judgement as well.
In this scenario, the common way to persuade your brother is, to ask him to visit doctor for follow-up of lymes disease or hypoglycemia.
You can tell your doctor about his symptoms in advance.
There are antipsychotic drugs which are available in colourless, tasteless solution form and can be given to patient, mixed in his food.
Or,
There are depot preparations of antipsychotics, which are given once in 15-30 days.
I understand that this is a sort of breach in privavcy and rights of person but this has to be done for benefit of the person.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to discuss further.
Thanks.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD(Psychiatry).
probable psychosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns for your brother.
You are probably right in judging his condition that he has become delusional.
The symptoms like FBI spying on him through cameras and sending signals is very much suggestive of delusional disorder, probably psychosis.
He thinks he is ok and does not want to visit a doctor.
In such cases, the patients are usually unwilling to go to a doctor as they donot have insight about their illness. There is loss of judgement as well.
In this scenario, the common way to persuade your brother is, to ask him to visit doctor for follow-up of lymes disease or hypoglycemia.
You can tell your doctor about his symptoms in advance.
There are antipsychotic drugs which are available in colourless, tasteless solution form and can be given to patient, mixed in his food.
Or,
There are depot preparations of antipsychotics, which are given once in 15-30 days.
I understand that this is a sort of breach in privavcy and rights of person but this has to be done for benefit of the person.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to discuss further.
Thanks.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD(Psychiatry).
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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