Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with GoogleGet your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
Aggressive Behaviour, Illusions. What Kind Of Medical Help Is Required?
my 75 yr old father has been acting weird like being agressif and he is constantly believing that my mother of 70 yr old is having an affair with someone much younger than her and who is a dear friend of the family.... the fact is that my mother is bed ridden and monitored all the time , so such thought does not arise.
my father is not listening to anyone, although acts normally in front of strangers but always harassing my mother and when we try to reason him, he become aggressive and acts very proudly and with great confidence.... also does not want to have any medical help because he thinks he is completely fit and we are trying to get rid of him...
my father is not listening to anyone, although acts normally in front of strangers but always harassing my mother and when we try to reason him, he become aggressive and acts very proudly and with great confidence.... also does not want to have any medical help because he thinks he is completely fit and we are trying to get rid of him...
Mon, 22 Jul 2013
Hello.
These conditions are normal when individuals get senile. It sounds like your father could be suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.
I would advise you and your family to coax him into seeking medical help.
Organize a situation in which everyone pretends to be on his side, win his trust and pretend to be against your mother. Once he is convinced all of you are on his side, take him along with you without informing him about a visit to the doctor. You might not even have to inform him about the doctor being a doctor, instead call the doctor a family friend who is here to help him in finding the man your mother is 'having am affair' with. The doctor can slowly work his way into diagnosing and treating him if he is experienced.
Most of these cases require hospitalization if they get worse as patients tend to get more aggressive with time and can be a threat to the safety of the family.
I Wish you patients and luck in helping your father.
Best wishes.
These conditions are normal when individuals get senile. It sounds like your father could be suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.
I would advise you and your family to coax him into seeking medical help.
Organize a situation in which everyone pretends to be on his side, win his trust and pretend to be against your mother. Once he is convinced all of you are on his side, take him along with you without informing him about a visit to the doctor. You might not even have to inform him about the doctor being a doctor, instead call the doctor a family friend who is here to help him in finding the man your mother is 'having am affair' with. The doctor can slowly work his way into diagnosing and treating him if he is experienced.
Most of these cases require hospitalization if they get worse as patients tend to get more aggressive with time and can be a threat to the safety of the family.
I Wish you patients and luck in helping your father.
Best wishes.
I find this answer helpful
User's Response
Dr. Balaji Bharadwaj,
Psychiatrist's Response
Psychiatrist's Response
Your father believes that your mother is having an affair and that is neither true nor possible given that your mother is bedridden. This false belief is called a delusion. Delusion is a symptom of psychosis.
Talking to him and trying to provide reasoning or proof is not going to help. It may be counterproductive on the other hand. He may think you are colluding or taking sides with your mother and protecting her. It may make him more aggressive.
He needs medications that can control delusions. Consult a psychiatrist and provide him with information about your father's behaviour. He will also interview your father to reach a diagnosis.
You may try to avoid arguing with him when he expresses his doubts regarding your mother. Try to gently change the topic or distract him instead of arguing with him. Arguing may increase his aggressive behaviour.
In elderly people, such psychotic symptoms may be a part of dementia or of an underlying medical condition. So it is wise to consult a psychiatrist for adequate evaluation and management in his case.
Talking to him and trying to provide reasoning or proof is not going to help. It may be counterproductive on the other hand. He may think you are colluding or taking sides with your mother and protecting her. It may make him more aggressive.
He needs medications that can control delusions. Consult a psychiatrist and provide him with information about your father's behaviour. He will also interview your father to reach a diagnosis.
You may try to avoid arguing with him when he expresses his doubts regarding your mother. Try to gently change the topic or distract him instead of arguing with him. Arguing may increase his aggressive behaviour.
In elderly people, such psychotic symptoms may be a part of dementia or of an underlying medical condition. So it is wise to consult a psychiatrist for adequate evaluation and management in his case.
I find this answer helpful
1 user finds this helpful
HI.
Your father is most likely having a delusion of infidelity and is acting out on the delusion. Also he seems to have a poor insight into his illness.
If these symptoms are of recent onset , they need to be taken seriously and you should immediately consult a psychiatrist. At this age, psychiatric symptoms are usually secondary to some organic pathology in the brain. A detailed workup, including neuroimaging, metabolic profile and neuropsychological assessment, is warranted in this case and needs to be conducted by competent professionals.
The management will be according to the abnormality detected. Though convincing himself to comply with the treatment schedule will be difficult initially, I am sure with persistent efforts, he will have a good life ahead.
Hope this helps.
Dr A Rao Kavoor
Your father is most likely having a delusion of infidelity and is acting out on the delusion. Also he seems to have a poor insight into his illness.
If these symptoms are of recent onset , they need to be taken seriously and you should immediately consult a psychiatrist. At this age, psychiatric symptoms are usually secondary to some organic pathology in the brain. A detailed workup, including neuroimaging, metabolic profile and neuropsychological assessment, is warranted in this case and needs to be conducted by competent professionals.
The management will be according to the abnormality detected. Though convincing himself to comply with the treatment schedule will be difficult initially, I am sure with persistent efforts, he will have a good life ahead.
Hope this helps.
Dr A Rao Kavoor
I find this answer helpful
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer.
For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service
[Sample answer]
Related questions you may be interested in
Recent questions on Dementia
Loading Online Doctors....