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Delusional syndromes. What is paranoid syndrome? What is paranoid delusion


Description:

Paranoid syndrome (hallucinatory-paranoid, hallucinatory-delusional syndrome) is a combination of interpretative or interpretive-figurative persecution (poisoning, physical or moral harm, destruction, material damage, surveillance), with sensory disorders in the form and (or) verbal.


Symptoms:

The systematization of delusional ideas of any content varies within very wide limits. If the patient talks about what the persecution is (damage, poisoning, etc.), knows the date of its beginning, the purpose, the means used for the purpose of persecution (damage, poisoning, etc.), the grounds and goals of the persecution, its consequences and final result, then we are talking about systematized delirium. In some cases, patients talk about all this in sufficient detail, and then it is not difficult to judge the degree of systematization of delirium. However, much more often paranoid syndrome is accompanied by some degree of inaccessibility. In these cases, the systematization of delirium can be judged only by indirect signs. So, if the pursuers are called “they”, without specifying who exactly, and the symptom of the pursued-persecutor (if it exists) is manifested by migration or passive defense (additional locks on the doors, caution shown by the patient when preparing food, etc.) - nonsense is rather systematized in general terms. If they talk about persecutors and name a specific organization, and even more so the names of certain individuals (delusional personification), if there is a symptom of an actively persecuted persecutor, most often in the form of complaints to public organizations, we are, as a rule, talking about a fairly systematized delusion. Sensory disorders in paranoid syndrome may be limited to true auditory verbal hallucinations, often reaching the intensity of hallucinosis. Typically, such a hallucinatory-delusional syndrome occurs primarily in somatically caused mental illnesses. The complication of verbal hallucinations in these cases occurs due to the addition of auditory pseudohallucinations and some other components of ideational mental automatism - “unwinding of memories”, a feeling of mastery, an influx of thoughts - mentism.
When the structure of the sensory component of paranoid syndrome is dominated by mental automatism (see below), while true verbal hallucinations recede into the background, existing only at the beginning of the development of the syndrome, or are completely absent. Mental automatism can be limited to the development of only the ideational component, primarily “echo-thoughts”, “made thoughts”, auditory pseudo-hallucinations. In more severe cases, sensory and motor automatisms are added. As a rule, as mental automatism becomes more complex, it is accompanied by the appearance of delusions of mental and physical influence. Patients talk about external influences on their thoughts, physical functions, the effects of hypnosis, special devices, rays, atomic energy, etc.
Depending on the predominance of delusions or sensory disorders in the structure of the hallucinatory-delusional syndrome, delusional and hallucinatory variants are distinguished. In the delusional version, the delirium is usually systematized to a greater extent than in the hallucinatory version; among sensory disorders, mental automatisms predominate and patients, as a rule, are either inaccessible or completely inaccessible. In the hallucinatory variant, true verbal hallucinations predominate. Mental automatism often remains undeveloped, and in patients it is always possible to find out certain features of the condition; complete inaccessibility is rather an exception here. In prognostic terms, the delusional variant is usually worse than the hallucinatory variant.
Paranoid syndrome, especially in the delusional version, is often a chronic condition. In this case, its appearance is often preceded by a gradually developing systematized interpretative delusion (paranoid syndrome), to which sensory disorders are added after significant periods of time, often years later. The transition from a paranoid state to a paranoid state is usually accompanied by an exacerbation of the disease: confusion, motor agitation with anxiety and fear (anxious-fearful excitement), and various manifestations of figurative delirium appear.
Such disorders last for days or weeks, and then a hallucinatory-delusional state is established.
Modification of chronic paranoid syndrome occurs either due to the appearance of paraphrenic disorders, or due to the development of the so-called secondary, or sequential, syndrome.
In acute paranoid syndrome, figurative delusions predominate over intelligible delusions. Systematization of delusional ideas is either absent or exists only in the most general form. Confusion and pronounced affective disorders are always observed, mainly in the form of tension or fear.
Behavior changes. Motor agitation and impulsive actions often occur. Mental automatisms are usually limited to the ideational component; true verbal hallucinations can reach the intensity of hallucinosis. With the reverse development of acute paranoid syndrome, a distinct depressive or subdepressive mood background often persists for a long time, sometimes in combination with residual delusions.
Questioning patients with paranoid syndrome, as well as patients with other delusional syndromes (paranoid, paraphrenic) (see below), often presents great difficulties due to their inaccessibility. Such patients are suspicious and speak sparingly, as if weighing their words vaguely. Suspect the existence of inaccessibility by allowing statements typical for such patients ("why talk about it, everything is written there, you know and I know, you're a physiognomist, let's talk about something else," etc.). With complete inaccessibility, the patient does not talk not only about the painful disorders he has, but also about the events of his everyday life. If accessibility is incomplete, the patient often provides detailed information about himself regarding everyday issues, but immediately becomes silent, and in some cases becomes tense and suspicious when asked questions - direct or indirect - concerning his mental state. Such a dissociation between what the patient reported about himself in general and how he responded to the question about his mental state always suggests low availability of a constant or very frequent sign of a delusional state.
In many cases, in order to obtain the necessary information from a “delusional” patient, he should be “talked” on topics that are not directly related to delusional experiences. It is rare that during such a conversation a patient will not accidentally drop some phrase related to delirium. Such a phrase often has seemingly the most ordinary content (“what can I say, I live well, but I’m not entirely lucky with my neighbors...”). If a doctor, having heard such a phrase, is able to ask clarifying questions of everyday content, it is very likely that he will receive information that is clinical facts. But even if, as a result of questioning, the doctor does not receive specific information about the subjective state of the patient, he can almost always conclude from indirect evidence that there is inaccessibility or low accessibility, i.e. about the presence of delusional disorders in the patient.


Causes:

Paranoid syndrome most often occurs in endogenous-processual diseases. Paranoid syndrome manifests itself in many ways: alcoholism (alcoholic paranoid), presenile psychoses (involutional paranoid), exogenous (intoxication, traumatic paranoid) and psychogenic disorders (reactive paranoid), (epileptic paranoid), etc.


Treatment:

For treatment the following is prescribed:


Complex therapy is used based on the disease that caused the syndrome. Although, for example, in France, there is a syndromic type of treatment.
1. Mild form: aminazine, propazine, levomepromazine 0.025-0.2; etaperazine 0.004-0.1; sonapax (meleril) 0.01-0.06; Meleril-retard 0.2;
2. Moderate form: aminazine, levomepromazine 0.05-0.3 intramuscularly 2-3 ml 2 times a day; chlorprothixene 0.05-0.4; haloperidol up to 0.03; triftazine (stelazine) up to 0.03 intramuscularly 1-2 ml 0.2% 2 times a day; trifluperidol 0.0005-0.002;
3. Aminazine (tizercin) intramuscularly 2-3 ml 2-3 per day or intravenously up to 0.1 haloperidol or trifluperidol 0.03 intramuscularly or intravenously drip 1-2 ml; leponex up to 0.3-0.5; motidel-depot 0.0125-0.025.


Paranoid or paranoid psychosis refers to delusional mental disorders and at the same time to. Experts consider this condition to be one of the most common forms of mental disorders, and the reasons for the development of paranoid psychosis can be quite varied.

The central symptom of paranoid psychosis is a pronounced picture of delusion, in which the patient is most often convinced that someone is stalking him or that something is threatening him. As a rule, this psychosis develops in people with a certain personality type: suspicious, anxious, suspicious by nature.

The most common cause of this mental disorder is organic brain damage, and paranoid psychosis can also occur with chronic alcoholism and drug use. This form of psychosis is characterized by feelings of anxiety, persecution mania, motor agitation, attacks of fear and even aggression.

In addition, paranoid psychosis can be one of the manifestations of schizophrenia. In this case, the basis of the symptoms is almost always Kandinsky-Clerambault syndrome (“alienation syndrome”), in which the patient seems to feel someone else’s influence on his own behavior and thoughts, and sometimes believes that a certain force also influences the people and objects around him.

By the way, you've probably heard about cases when older people begin to complain about “bad” neighbors who are trying to “poison them through the socket” and plot other intrigues of a similar nature. Such complaints are not always paranoid psychosis, but they certainly indicate the development of a mental illness in a person.

Classification of paranoid psychoses

Types of paranoid psychosis are determined by specialists based on the variants of delusional ideas that the patient describes:

  1. The most common clinical picture is delusion of persecution, when the patient constantly feels that someone is threatening him and wants to cause harm.
  2. Delusions of jealousy manifest themselves in the form of obsessive thoughts about a partner’s infidelity. According to statistics, men are more likely to suffer from this condition than women.
  3. Somatic delirium is expressed in the patient's complaints about disturbances in physical health. A person constantly thinks that he is suffering from a serious and even incurable disease.
  4. Delusions of grandeur can manifest themselves in different ways: in one case, the patient identifies himself with a real historical character, literary hero, great politician, pop star, and so on; in another, he considers himself capable of global achievements (which in reality are not discussed) .
  5. Erotomanic delirium, on the contrary, is directed at some famous person. It seems to the patient that this person has love and passion for him, although in fact the patient and the object of his desire may not even be familiar.
  6. With a mixed type of delusional disorder, the ideas described above may appear together or replace each other.

Kandinsky-Clerambault syndrome, delusions of influence. In the video, the patient describes her feelings, explaining her own reactions and thoughts to outside influences.

Symptoms of the disease

In addition to the detailed clinical picture of delusion, all paranoid disorders have common features. These symptoms of psychosis appear in almost all patients, so psychiatrists pay special attention to such complaints in order to make the correct diagnosis.

Patients with this form of mental disorder are characterized by suspicion and distrust of the people around them. Such thoughts can begin to develop long before the disease enters the acute phase. The expectation of a trick from the outside world over time takes on obsessive forms, and sometimes complete strangers with whom the patient has nothing in common come under suspicion. Any extraneous conversation is perceived by a person as a threat or a hint of it, which forces a person with a disturbed psyche to constantly live in a state of tension, readiness to defend.

The patient may consider those closest to him to be potential traitors who are just waiting to harm him. As the disease progresses, the patient finds “confirmation” of his suspicions, which leads to gradual isolation from society.

Sharp intolerance even to constructive criticism can also be a symptom of developing paranoid psychosis. Attempts to point out to the patient his mistakes cause a violent reaction and are perceived by him as manifestations of a general conspiracy to harm and humiliate his dignity.

Sincere care and participation in the eyes of a mentally ill person turn into a “cover” for the implementation of ideas of a conspiracy against him. Attempts to help can be perceived as a desire to gain confidence in order to cause moral or physical pain. Therefore, friendship with such a person will never work out, since he perceives any manifestation of participation as a potential threat.

With paranoid disorder, the patient carefully “collects” his grievances, completely unable to forgive them. He may remember something that happened many decades ago - but for his sick imagination, the old resentment will be just as sharp and deep, no matter how much time has passed. The accumulation of grievances gives rise to constant reproaches and the emergence of new disappointments in loved ones.

Paranoid psychosis tends not only to progress quickly, but also to become chronic. In the absence of treatment, over time, the patient almost completely loses his sense of responsibility (in any situation, from his point of view, other people or undefined “higher powers” ​​will be to blame); depression, alcohol addiction and other pathological conditions may develop. Any stress becomes unbearable for a mentally ill person, even to the point of suicidal thoughts and even attempts. In severe cases, an affective state may develop, when the patient moves from suspicion to real action in order to physically “deal” with many of his enemies and simply unpleasant people.

Treatment of paranoid psychosis

Unfortunately, paranoid psychosis is not always completely curable. This is partly explained by the fact that even the very fact of treatment is perceived by the patient as part of a conspiracy against him, so even doctors are not always able to persuade the patient to take medications or go to the hospital.

If a person agrees to accept professional help, then the issue of hospitalization is decided individually in each case. Treatment in a hospital is definitely necessary if the patient exhibits symptoms that are dangerous to himself or others. In this case, most often hospitalization becomes compulsory.

Important! Paranoid psychosis must be differentiated from other disorders with similar symptoms. For example, depressive-paranoid manifestations are characteristic of delusional depression, and excessive concern for one’s own health can even be banal hypochondria. Only an experienced doctor can accurately determine what kind of disorder he is dealing with; self-medication and self-diagnosis for such disorders are strictly unacceptable!

After a thorough examination of the patient, doctors prescribe therapy:

  • tranquilizers to relieve motor agitation;
  • antipsychotics to relieve symptoms of psychosis;
  • antidepressants if signs of depression are present;
  • psychotherapy to teach the patient to accept his condition and adapt to life in society again.

The earlier treatment is started, the greater the patient’s chances of returning to normal life. But it is worth remembering that paranoid psychosis cannot be cured in one month; this disease can remain with a person all his life, and it is not always possible to cure it completely. However, in any case, the patient must maintain contact with the attending physician, attend appointments on time and regularly take prescribed medications. If the patient “goes into denial” again, then the likelihood of relapse increases significantly, and the consequences can be quite severe - both for the patient himself and for the people around him.

Delusional syndromes are mental disorders characterized by the emergence of inferences that do not correspond to reality - delusional ideas, the fallacy of which patients cannot be convinced.

These disorders tend to progress as the disease progresses. Delirium is one of the most characteristic and common signs of mental illness. The content of delusions can be very different: delusions of persecution, delusions of poisoning, delusions of physical impact, delusions of damage, delusions of accusation, delusions of jealousy, hypochondriacal delusions, delusions of self-abasement, delusions of grandeur. Very often, types of delusions of different content are combined.

Delusions are never the only symptom of mental illness; as a rule, it is combined with depression or a manic state, often with hallucinations and pseudohallucinations (see Affective syndromes, Hallucinatory syndromes), confusion (delirious, twilight states). In this regard, delusional syndromes are usually distinguished, distinguished not only by special forms of delirium, but also by a characteristic combination of various symptoms of mental disorders.

Paranoid syndrome is characterized by systematized delusions of varying content (invention, persecution, jealousy, love, litigious, hypochondriacal). The syndrome is characterized by a slow development with a gradual expansion of the circle of persons and events involved in delirium, and a complex system of evidence.

If you do not touch the “sore point” of thinking, no significant violations are found in the behavior of patients. With regard to the subject of a delusional idea, patients are completely uncritical and cannot be persuaded, easily enrolling those who are trying to dissuade them into the camp of “enemies, persecutors.” The thinking and speech of patients is very detailed, their stories about “persecution” can last for hours, it is difficult to distract them. The mood is often somewhat elevated, patients are optimistic - they are confident in their rightness, in the victory of the “just cause,” however, under the influence of an unfavorable, from their point of view, external situation, they can become angry, tense, and commit socially dangerous actions. In paranoid delusional syndrome, there are no hallucinations or pseudohallucinations. It is necessary to distinguish paranoid delusional syndrome from an “overvalued idea,” when a real life problem acquires an excessively large (overvalued) meaning in the mind of a mentally healthy person. Paranoid delusional syndrome most often occurs in schizophrenia (see), less often in other mental illnesses (organic brain damage, chronic alcoholism, etc.).

Paranoid syndrome is characterized by systematic delusions of persecution, physical impact with hallucinations and pseudohallucinations and phenomena of mental automatism. Typically, patients believe that they are being persecuted by some kind of organization, whose members are watching their actions, thoughts, and actions, because they want to disgrace them in the eyes of people or destroy them. “Persecutors” operate with special devices that emit electromagnetic waves or atomic energy, using hypnosis, controlling thoughts, actions, mood, and the activity of internal organs (the phenomenon of mental automatism). Patients say that their thoughts are taken away from them, that they put in other people’s thoughts, that they “make” memories, dreams (ideational automatism), that they specifically cause unpleasant painful sensations, pains, that their heartbeat increases or slows down, urination (senestopathic automatism), that they are forced to various movements, speaking their language (motor automatism). In paranoid delusional syndrome, the behavior and thinking of patients is impaired. They stop working, write numerous statements demanding protection from persecution, and often take measures themselves to protect themselves from rays and hypnosis (special methods of isolating a room or clothing). Fighting against “persecutors,” they can commit socially dangerous actions. Paranoid delusional syndrome usually occurs with schizophrenia, less often with organic diseases of the central nervous system (encephalitis, cerebral syphilis, etc.).

Paraphrenic syndrome is characterized by delusions of persecution, influence, and phenomena of mental automatism, combined with fantastic delusions of grandeur. Patients say that they are great people, gods, leaders, the course of world history and the fate of the country in which they live depend on them. They talk about meetings with many great people (delusional confabulations), about incredible events in which they were participants; at the same time, there are also ideas of persecution. Criticism and awareness of the disease are completely absent in such patients. Paraphrenic delusional syndrome is observed most often in schizophrenia, less often in psychoses of late age (vascular, atrophic).

Acute paranoid. With this type of delusional syndrome, acute, concrete, figurative, sensory delusions of persecution with an affect of fear, anxiety, and confusion predominate. There is no systematization of delusional ideas; there are affective illusions (see), individual hallucinations. The development of the syndrome is preceded by a period of unaccountable anxiety, anxious anticipation of some kind of misfortune with a feeling of unclear danger (delusional mood). Later, the patient begins to feel that they want to rob him, kill him, or destroy his relatives. Delusional ideas are changeable and depend on the external situation. Every gesture and action of others causes a delusional idea (“there is a conspiracy, they are giving signs, preparing for an attack”). The actions of patients are determined by fear and anxiety. They can suddenly run out of the room, leave the train, bus, and seek protection from the police, but after a short period of calm, a delusional assessment of the situation in the police begins again, and its employees are mistaken for “members of the gang.” Usually, sleep is severely disturbed and there is no appetite. Characterized by a sharp exacerbation of delirium in the evening and at night. Therefore, during these periods, patients need enhanced supervision. Acute paranoid can occur with a variety of mental illnesses (schizophrenia, alcoholic, reactive, intoxication, vascular and other psychoses).

Residual delusions are delusional disorders that remain after the passage of psychoses that occurred with clouding of consciousness. It can last for varying periods of time - from several days to several weeks.

Patients with delusional syndromes must be referred to a psychiatrist at a psychiatric clinic, patients with acute paranoid - to a hospital. The referral must contain fairly complete objective information (from the words of relatives and colleagues) about the characteristics of the patient’s behavior and statements.

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Paranoid syndrome

Paranoid syndrome can develop both reactively and chronically, but most often it is dominated by poorly systematized (sensory delusions).

The paranoid syndrome should not be confused with the paranoid one - although the content of delusional ideas may be similar, these conditions differ both in their “scope” and speed of development, as well as in the characteristics of their course and further prognosis. In paranoid syndrome, delusions most often develop gradually, starting with small ideas and growing into a strong, systematized delusional system that the patient can clearly explain. With sensory delusions, which usually develop as part of the paranoid syndrome, systematization is quite low. This is due to the fact that delirium is either fantastic in nature, or due to the rapid increase in painful symptoms, it is still little realized by the patient, in whose picture of the world it suddenly appears.

Paranoid syndrome can develop both within the framework of schizophrenia, psychotic disorders with organic brain lesions, and within the framework of bipolar affective disorder (BD) (formerly manic-depressive psychoses). But still more often with the first and last.

Forms of paranoid syndrome

Depending on which specific symptoms appear most clearly in the clinical picture, within the framework of the paranoid syndrome the following are distinguished:

  • affective-delusional syndrome, where there is sensory delirium and a change in affect, can be in two variants: manic-delusional and depressive-delusional (depressive-paranoid syndrome), depending on the leading affect. It is worth noting that the content of delusional ideas will correspond here to the “pole” of affect: with depression, the patient can express ideas of self-blame, condemnation, persecution; and with mania - ideas of greatness, noble origin, invention, etc.
  • hallucinatory-delusional (hallucinatory-paranoid syndrome), where hallucinations come to the fore, which does not exclude the presence of affective-delusional disorders, but they are not in the foreground here.
  • hallucinatory-delusional syndrome with the presence of mental automatisms - in this case we can talk about Kandinsky-Clerambault syndrome,
  • paranoid syndrome itself without other pronounced and prominent other disorders. Only unsystematized, sensual delirium prevails here.

Treatment of paranoid syndrome

Treatment of paranoid syndrome requires urgent intervention from specialists, since, as practice shows, neither delusions nor hallucinations, especially against the background of endogenous (caused by internal causes) diseases, do not go away on their own, their symptoms tend only to increase, and Treatment has the greatest effect when started as early as possible. Indeed, it happens that in some cases people live in a delusional state for years. But loved ones need to understand that the prognosis of the disease, and the person’s life history in the future, depend on the quality of the care provided and its timeliness.

Treatment of paranoid syndrome, like any disorder characterized by hallucinations and delusions, usually requires hospitalization: after all, it is necessary to effectively relieve the existing symptoms, and before that, carry out a comprehensive diagnosis and determine the cause of the development of the condition. All this can be effectively implemented only in a hospital setting. The presence of hallucinations or delusions in the clinical picture is always an indication for the use of pharmacological therapy. No matter how negatively some ordinary people view it, it is thanks to pharmacology that psychiatrists have been able to successfully cope with acute psychotic conditions for decades, thereby returning patients to normal activity and the opportunity to live fully.

Again, you need to understand that sensory (unsystematized) delusions, accompanied by hallucinations, can be a source of danger both for the patient himself and for the people around him. Thus, with delusions of persecution (and this is one of the most common types of delusions), a person may begin to flee or defend himself, thereby causing irreparable damage to his own health. Delusions of self-deprecation, which often develop with depressive-paranoid syndrome, are also dangerous.

Often the situation develops in such a way that the patient himself does not regard his own condition as painful, and, naturally, resists not only the possibility of inpatient treatment, but also a simple visit to the doctor. However, loved ones need to understand that there is no other way to help a person other than to treat him inpatiently.

Some psychiatrists cite as examples sad cases when a paranoid state with sensory delusions and hallucinations first manifests itself, for example, in childhood. But relatives, due to stereotypes, not wanting to “label the child,” go not to doctors, but to healers, resort to the use of religious rituals, which only triggers the disease, making it chronic. You can also often see examples of how relatives, not understanding the seriousness of the illness of a person close to them, resist with all their might the hospitalization of adults.

However, if there is someone to take care of the patient, but he himself does not want to receive the necessary treatment in an acute condition, then the law specifically for these cases provides for the possibility of involuntary hospitalization. (Article No. 29 of the Law on the provision of mental health care). The law provides for involuntary hospitalization if the patient's condition threatens his own safety or the safety of others. Also, this kind of help can be provided if the patient cannot ask for it himself due to illness, or if failure to provide him with help will lead to a further deterioration of his condition.

Every citizen of our country has the right to receive this type of assistance free of charge. However, many are frightened by publicity, and even the prospect of ending up in a medical facility. If the issue of private provision of psychiatric care, as well as complete anonymity, is of fundamental importance to you, then you should contact a private psychiatric clinic, where there is even a treatment option where you will be offered to remain completely anonymous.

Modern medicine has long been able to treat this kind of disorder, diagnose the underlying cause of the disease and offer various treatment options.

Thus, only a qualified psychiatrist is able to determine both the underlying disease and prescribe quality treatment for paranoid syndrome.

Important: symptoms of paranoid syndrome can increase rapidly. No matter how strange the behavior of a loved one who has suddenly changed may seem to you, do not try to look for metaphysical, religious or pseudo-scientific explanations. Every disorder has a real, understandable, and, most often, removable cause.

Contact the professionals. They will definitely help.

Paranoid form of schizophrenia

The paranoid form of schizophrenia is a unique mental disorder characterized by disturbances in the sphere of intelligence and worldview. This disease is characterized by specific features, the combination of which contributes to the emergence of various symptoms. Alternating states of passion with apathy, decreased concentration and ability to work, memory problems and increased excitability of the nervous system are just some of the symptoms characteristic of this pathology. It is important to note that most paranoid people strive to comply with the norms and rules established by society, but the development of delusional syndrome radically changes their lifestyle. Let's look at how paranoid schizophrenia manifests itself, the symptoms and signs of this pathology.

Paranoid schizophrenia is a type of schizophrenia characterized by hallucinations and delusions, as well as incoherent speech and affective flattening

Causes of mental disorders

Numerous studies on mental disorders have failed to identify the cause of the formation of the paranoid form of schizophrenia. According to experts, there is a high probability of hereditary transmission of the disease, as statistics indicate frequent transmission of mental disorders between family members. There is also a theory that this disease is associated with impaired brain activity. It is important to note that this theory is not supported by documented facts, since not all patients experience a decrease in the level of serotonin, which is responsible for brain activity.

Most specialists in the field of psychiatry prefer to adhere to the opinion that the development of the disease is caused by a combination of factors, among which genetic predisposition and exposure to external stimuli should be highlighted. The study of the human genetic code has made it possible to discover genes responsible for the activation of mental disorders. The influence of various external stimuli leads to the triggering of the disease development mechanism.

The mechanism for triggering the disease is closely related to daily changes in the level of brain neurotransmitters, as well as an imbalance in their synthesis. It is neurotransmitters that are responsible for the relationship between mental reactions and emotional perception of the world around us. According to experts, the first symptoms of the disease are caused precisely by a disruption in the synthesis of substances that affect brain activity. Scientists say that bad heredity is “too little” for the full development of pathology. The paranoid form of schizophrenia is a mental disorder caused by the influence of the following factors:

  • moral, physical or sexual violence against a human person;
  • long-term use of mind-altering drugs during puberty;
  • unfavorable climate within the family;
  • traumatic events experienced in childhood;
  • prolonged exposure to nervous tension.

There are two forms of paranoid schizophrenia: delusional and hallucinatory.

Clinical picture

Most patients with this disease suffer from problems associated with impaired perception of the surrounding world. The course of the disease is accompanied by attacks of auditory, visual and visual hallucinations. Among the clinical manifestations of the pathology in question, emotional excitability, increased anxiety, psychomotor agitation, causeless aggression and attacks of anger should be highlighted. Violations in the intellectual sphere, combined with various complexes and manias, often cause thoughts associated with suicide.

Among the specific manifestations of the disease, auditory hallucinations and bouts of delirium should be highlighted. Based on the most common symptoms of the disease, subtypes of pathology are determined. These symptoms include: affective disorders, constant feelings of anxiety, disturbances in the volitional and strength spheres, as well as attacks of catatonia. Today, experts identify two characteristic forms of manifestation of the disease:

  1. Catatonic type;
  2. Paranoid disorder accompanied by depression, mania and increased levels of anxiety.

Paranoid schizophrenia is one of the most common types of schizophrenia

There are four main stages in the development of a mental disorder. At the initial stage, the symptoms of the disease manifest themselves in the form of short bouts of confusion. Further, episodic manifestations of a stable defect are observed. At a certain stage of development, a stable defect increases its severity, which leads to the patient constantly being in a state of darkened consciousness. The chronic form of the pathology manifests itself in the form of frequent relapses and exacerbations.

Since the development of schizophrenia is accompanied by disturbances in many areas of mental health, identifying the presence of pathology is quite simple. According to experts, diagnostic difficulties arise when it is necessary to determine the presence of a tendency to attacks of hallucinations, delusional ideas and catatonia.

Symptoms and signs in women are characterized as delusional thoughts and changes in the perception of the world around them. Most patients are firmly convinced that various conspiracies are being built around them. This forces the patient to constantly struggle with external influences. It is important to note that suspicions of negative actions towards oneself often fall on relatives and immediate circles. Delusional thoughts are often the main reason for attempting suicide. Having a strong belief in the ability to breathe under water or fly like a bird forces the patient to try out the “existing” abilities. Most people with this disease tend to socially isolate themselves, believing that the world around them is hostile towards them.

Manifestations of hallucinations

A paranoid schizophrenic during an attack of hallucinations is under the power of an inner voice that controls his behavior. According to experts, it is almost impossible to resist the onslaught of internal voices. It is auditory hallucinations that greatly change the patient’s lifestyle, which leads to constant resistance to public influence. Schizophrenia can be characterized as increased criticality of the world around us. The desire for isolation is caused by causeless aggression and constant irritation caused by the actions of others.

Delusional syndrome manifests itself in the form of systematized delusions, which are expressed in the form of persecution mania, unjustified cruelty and problems in relationships with others. It is attacks of delirium that lead to the appearance of various thoughts that push the patient to reckless actions. As an example, we can say that a suicide attempt may be due to the desire not to destroy one’s own personality, but to bring pain to others. Paranoid delusions are expressed in the form of constant jealousy. This symptom is one of the most dangerous, since disturbances in the sphere of mental perception can push the patient to physically dangerous actions.

A distinctive feature of paranoid schizophrenia is the presence of paraphrenic and paranoid delusions

The disease, accompanied by hallucinatory attacks, is systematic. Attacks of hallucinations are the main cause of increased internal tension, the emergence of groundless fears and affective behavior. It is these clinical symptoms that are characteristic of Kandinsky-Clerambault syndrome, which manifests itself in the form of a sensation of external voices and extraneous noise. Such sounds that appear in the patient’s head are called “pseudohallucinations.”

The disease in men may be accompanied by the appearance of false images that cause an association with specific odors - the smell of decomposition or blood. The appearance of this symptom is due to a disruption in the transmission of brain impulses to certain receptors.

Features of the disease

The paranoid type of schizophrenia is divided into acute and chronic forms. In the acute form of the disease, the simultaneous occurrence of symptoms such as affective excitability, groundless feelings of fear, anxiety and delusional syndrome is observed. This form of the disease is characterized by disturbances in the perception of surrounding reality and smooth transitions from a state of stupor to hyperactivity.

It is important to note that the disease in question has a slow course. At the initial stage of development, many atypical gestures and body movements appear in a person’s behavior, which are one of the first signs of the disorder. The gradual development of the disease leads to a loss of interest in previous hobbies and an increase in suspicion. Many psychiatrist patients complain of a lack of vivid emotions and a general “emptiness.” This condition can be aggravated by neurotic disorders, which manifest themselves in the form of obsessive mania, decreased ability to work, and overvalued ideas.

At a certain stage of development, the patient experiences pronounced depersonalization, which is accompanied by confusion and anxiety. Distortions in the perception of one’s own personality contribute to the appearance of attacks of hallucinations, which in the patient’s head are associated with external influences (demons, God or aliens).

The initial stage of the disease is characterized as obsession. Systematized attacks of delirium and obsessive thoughts accompany a decrease in the expression of emotions. Hallucinations and delusions are a secondary condition that is accompanied by verbal hallucinosis. Against the background of this problem, the patient experiences delusions of influence and attacks of pseudohallucinations. Pseudohallucinations are the patient’s own thoughts, which are perceived as someone else’s voice directing the patient’s actions.

When the disease is complicated by Kandinsky-Clerambault syndrome, experts identify such characteristic symptoms as mental automatisms and delusions of influence. The prognosis for successful treatment in this situation is unlikely, since all the patient’s actions are aimed at destroying his own personality. This form of the disease is often accompanied by various defects in the functioning of the speech apparatus. This disease is also characterized by disturbances in the sphere of emotional perception of the surrounding world, which is expressed by a complete or partial loss of interest in life, a decrease in emotional activity and a lack of stimuli.

The main cause of paranoid schizophrenia is brain dysfunction

Diagnostic methods

Diagnosis of the disease is based on identifying symptoms characteristic of schizophrenia, which has a paranoid form. The clinical manifestations of the disease on the basis of which the diagnosis is made include various manias, as well as visual, gustatory and tactile hallucinations. The presence of the above symptoms is a good reason to seek the help of a specialist. Differential diagnostic examination allows us to identify a specific form of pathology. In order to make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to determine the presence of clearly defined specific symptoms.

It is important to note that many symptoms characteristic of the paranoid form of schizophrenia often appear during epileptic seizures. Also, disturbances in the perception of the surrounding world are observed in people who have been using narcotic drugs for a long time. It should be noted that the direction of delirium is closely related to the patient’s hobbies. If a person was interested in technology, space, and other worlds before the onset of the disease, voices in the head can be interpreted as the influence of aliens. People who devote their attention to religion most often experience hallucinations associated with God or the devil.

Treatment of paranoid schizophrenia has many different complexities. In order to achieve stable remission, therapy must be carried out over many months. Treatment of the pathology in question is carried out in specialized clinics. According to experts, timely medical intervention allows us to hope for a favorable prognosis.

Symptoms of different types of paranoia

Paranoid syndrome is a special type of mental disorder that affects all mental activity of a person and affects his behavior. It is based on a near-delusional state, aggravated by various hallucinations, anxiety, and mental suppression.

A feature of the syndrome is that delusional ideas are not related to each other and are polythematic.

This occurs against a background of fear, anxiety, ongoing depression, sensory disorders (mental automatisms) and catonic deviations. Patients systematize delusional ideas within fairly wide boundaries: if a person can name the exact date of the beginning of his persecution or anxiety state, how it manifests itself, who exactly is watching him, etc., then in this case he has systematized delusions. But most often, delirium is systematized only in general terms and individual manifestations, for example, the patient may be careful when preparing food, additionally lock the doors, move, escaping from “pursuers.”

Doctors distinguish the following main symptoms of this condition:

  • figurative delirium prevails over preative;
  • all types of hallucinations, but more often auditory;
  • systematization of delirium;
  • delirium is presented in the form of insights;
  • persecution mania;
  • delusion of relationship (strangers look and hint at something);
  • sensory disorders;
  • pseudohallucinations.

There are delusional and hallucinatory variants of the development of this disease. In the first case, patients are withdrawn and taciturn; their treatment is more complex and difficult to diagnose. In the second case, hallucinatory deviations predominate, patients respond better, and the prognosis for their treatment is more optimistic. This syndrome can occur in acute and chronic forms. In the acute form, symptoms are expressed affectively, delirium is less systematized.

Hallucinatory-paranoid syndrome

Hallucinatory-paranoid syndrome is a mental condition in which mania of persecution, physical influence and mental automatism are aggravated by hallucinations or pseudohallucinations. Often this syndrome is preceded by mental disorders with affective-neurosis-like disorders. Delusions of influence are very diverse: from magic and hypnosis to the influence of modern weapons, lasers and radiation. Patients develop mental automatisms. This does not happen simultaneously, but as the disease progresses, most often in the following sequence:

  1. Associative automatism manifests itself in the form of thoughts rapidly rushing through the head and the effect of openness, when it seems that the people around them know what the patient is thinking about. Sometimes it seems to people that the judgments in their heads are foreign, they were imposed by outside influence.
  2. Sensory automatisms are presented in the form of unpleasant sensations: pulsation, twisting, temperature.
  3. Motor automatisms manifest themselves in the form of an external force acting on the movements and speech of patients. They claim that they are forced to obey other people's thoughts.

Pseudohalucinations, which are caused by hallucinatory-paranoid syndrome, are presented in the form of images that are projected in the mind under the influence of others, and patients do not associate them with real objects and consider them imposed.

Depressive-paranoid syndrome

This syndrome manifests itself as an increase in general depression and depression after exposure to any traumatic experience. At first, the experience is more or less adequate, but then insomnia, unbearable sadness and general lethargy may develop.

There are 4 stages of development that depressive-paranoid syndrome goes through:

  1. The cyclothymic stage is a general suppression of a person’s personality. With it, self-esteem decreases, a person loses the joys of life, pessimism develops, appetite is lost and libido decreases.
  2. The hypothymic stage occurs under the influence of melancholy, despondency, and sadness. The sick are not happy with anything, they don’t want to live anymore. They think theoretically about diseases and methods of dying. Any problem is an unbearable burden.
  3. During the melancholic stage, life for patients is almost physical pain. Suicidal thoughts are translated into actions. No one is able to dissuade them.
  4. The delusional stage develops with the delusion of self-blame, then the delirium of sinfulness continues and ends with the delirium of fantastic melancholy, when patients believe that they are guilty of all the evil in the world.

Manic-paranoid syndrome

Manic-paranoid syndrome is characterized by an unreasonably elevated mood, increased motor activity and mental arousal, in which thoughts and speech accelerate. In addition, it is possible to increase sexuality, appetite, and reassess your personal qualities. It most often manifests itself within bipolar affective disorder in the form of “outbursts” and episodes. Also for toxic, narcotic and other episodes. May develop after drugs, medications or surgery. A person may have delusional thoughts about relationships with other people, especially with the opposite sex. The patient is able to pursue the object of his passion. Possible manifestation of persecution mania.

The patient is convinced that people or a group of people around him are plotting criminal acts against him. People susceptible to this disease bombard all sorts of authorities with complaints. They develop aggression, distrust, and withdraw into themselves. This syndrome can develop after undergoing real stress with kidnapping, racketeering, etc. Treatment is most often used with medication, since dissuasion is useless, the doctor will only be considered an “agent of the enemy.”

Delusional and hallucinatory syndromes (paranoid, paranoid, paraphrenic)

Paranoid syndrome (gr. paranoia - madness) is manifested by systematized primary (interpretive) delusions. A synonym for paranoid delusion is delusion of interpretation. The content of delirium is limited to certain topics, is distinguished by great persistence and systematization in the form of interpretation of certain phenomena. As with any delusion, there is subjective logic (paralogic). There are no perception disorders (illusions, hallucinations, mental automatism) in the picture of this syndrome.

Thus, only rational cognition suffers, and not the perception of the objects and phenomena of the surrounding world themselves. Characteristic features: emotional (affective) tension, hypermnesia, thoroughness of thinking, increased self-esteem. Suspicion and distrust towards others are noticeable. Patients are often distinguished by their special obsession and exceptional activity in realizing their ideas.

The primary delusional idea usually arises suddenly, like an insight, and is subjectively perceived by the sufferer with a feeling of relief, since all this was previously preceded by a long and difficult period of subconscious formation of this idea (the period of delusional readiness). The system of delusion is built on a chain of evidence that reveals subjective logic (paralogic). Facts that fit into the delusional system are accepted, everything else that contradicts the concept being presented is ignored.

The occurrence of delirium is preceded by a state of so-called delusional mood in the form of vague anxiety, a tense feeling of an impending threat, unhappiness, and a wary perception of what is happening around, which for the patient has acquired a different, special meaning. The appearance of delirium is accompanied, as already indicated, by subjective relief from the fact that the situation has become clear and vague expectations and suspicions, vague assumptions have finally formed into a clear system and have acquired clarity (from the patient’s point of view).

  • delusions of jealousy - the conviction that a partner is constantly cheating (a system of evidence in favor of this is emerging);
  • delusion of love - conviction of a feeling of sympathy (love) for the patient on the part of some person, often famous;
  • delusion of persecution - a firm belief that a certain person or group of people is watching the patient and pursuing him for a specific purpose;
  • hypochondriacal delusion - the belief of patients that they suffer from an incurable disease.

Other variants of the content of paranoid delusions are also common: delirium of reformism, delirium of a different (high) origin, delirium of dysmorphophobia (the latter consists of the patient’s persistent belief in the incorrectness or ugliness of the structure of his body or individual parts, primarily the face).

Paranoid syndrome is present in many functional mental disorders (reactive psychoses, etc.).

Paranoid syndrome (combines the hallucinatory-paranoid Kandinsky-Clerambault syndrome and hallucinosis), in contrast to paranoid syndrome, describes states of unsystematized delusion. This is delirium, usually of absurd (extremely absurd) content, which unfolds against the background of hallucinations, pseudohallucinations and mental automatisms. In paranoid syndrome, unlike paranoid syndrome, in the formation of delusions there is neither strict logical argumentation nor strong cohesion with the personality. The delirium is not so much rational as figurative, sensual, since it is often based on pseudohallucinations and mental automatisms (delusion of alienation). Mandatory symptoms are emotional (affective) tension and delusional agitation.

The chronic form of Kandinsky-Clerambault syndrome occurs in schizophrenia.

Paraphrenic syndrome combines fantastic delusions of grandeur, delusions of persecution and influence with phenomena of mental automatism and changes in affect.

Patients declare themselves rulers: of the Universe, of the Earth, heads of states, commanders-in-chief of armies, etc. The fate of the world, of humanity, is in their power; it depends on their desires whether there will be war or eternal prosperity, etc. Talking about their power, they use figurative and grandiose comparisons, operate with huge numbers, and involve in the circle of fantastic events they describe not only famous figures of our time, but also long-dead ones. The content of fantastic nonsense is not connected by the logic of arguments, is extremely changeable, and is constantly supplemented and enriched with new facts. As a rule, the mood of patients is elevated: from somewhat elevated to pronounced manic. The symptom of the illusion of doubles, the symptom of false recognition (Capgras symptom), and the symptom of intermetamorphosis (Fregoli) are often observed. In the structure of the syndrome, a significant place can be occupied by pseudohallucinations and confabulations relating to both past (ecmnestic confabulations) and current events, as well as retrospective delusions, in which the past is revised by the patient in accordance with his new worldview.

It most often develops subacutely—over a number of days and weeks. It can replace an acute polymorphic syndrome (see p. 127) or follow neurosis-like, less often psychopath-like disorders, and even less often a paranoid debut. Acute paranoid syndrome lasts for weeks, 2-3 months; chronic persists for many months and even years. Paranoid syndrome consists of polythematic delusions, which may be accompanied by hallucinations and mental automatisms. Depending on the clinical picture, the following variants of paranoid syndrome can be distinguished. Hallucinatory-paranoid syndrome is characterized by pronounced auditory hallucinations, to which sometimes olfactory hallucinations are also added. Among auditory hallucinations, the most typical are calls by name, imperative voices that give the patient various orders, for example, to refuse food, commit suicide, show aggression towards someone, as well as voices that comment on the patient’s behavior. Sometimes hallucinatory experiences reflect ambivalence. For example, someone’s voice either forces you to engage in masturbation, or scolds you for it. Olfactory hallucinations are usually extremely unpleasant for the patient - the smell of a corpse, gas, blood, sperm, etc. is felt. Often the patient finds it difficult to say what he smells, or gives the smells unusual names (“blue-green smells”). In addition to obvious hallucinations, adolescents are also especially prone to “delusional perception.” The patient “feels” that someone is hiding in the apartment nearby, although he has not seen or heard anyone, “feels” the gaze of others on his back. Due to some incomprehensible or indescribable signs, it seems that the food is poisoned or contaminated, although there seems to be no change in taste or smell. After seeing a famous actress on the TV screen, a teenager “discovers” that he looks like her, and therefore she is his real mother. Delusions in hallucinatory-paranoid syndrome can be either closely related to hallucinations or not stem from hallucinatory experiences. In the first case, for example, when voices are heard threatening to kill, the thought is born of a mysterious organization, a gang that is pursuing the patient. In the second case, delusional ideas seem to be born on their own: the teenager is convinced that they are laughing at him, although he has not noticed any obvious ridicule, and simply any smile on the faces of others is perceived as a hint of some kind of his own shortcoming. Among the different types of delusions, delusions of influence are especially characteristic. Mental automatisms in this syndrome occur as fleeting phenomena. Auditory pseudohallucinations may be more persistent: voices are heard not from somewhere outside, but from inside one’s head. Kandinsky-Clerambault syndrome [Kandinsky V. X., 1880; Clerambault G., 1920], just like in adults, is characterized by pseudohallucinations, a feeling of mastery or openness of thoughts and delusions of influence [Snezhnevsky A.V., 1983]. In younger and middle-aged adolescents, visual pseudohallucinations are also encountered: various geometric figures, a grid, etc. are seen inside the head. For older adolescence, auditory pseudohallucinations are more typical. Among mental automatisms, the most common are “gaps” in thoughts, feelings of moments of emptiness in the head, and less often, involuntary influxes of thoughts (mentism). There is a feeling of thoughts sounding in your head. It seems that one’s own thoughts are heard or somehow recognized by others (a symptom of openness of thoughts). Sometimes, on the contrary, a teenager feels that he himself has become able to read the thoughts of others, predict their actions and actions. There may be a feeling that someone is controlling the behavior of a teenager from the outside, for example, using radio waves, forcing him to perform certain actions, moving the patient’s hands, encouraging him to pronounce certain words - speech motor hallucinations J. Seglas (1888). Among the various forms of delirium in Kandinsky-Clerambault syndrome, delirium of influence and delirium of metamorphosis are most closely associated with it. The delusional version of the paranoid syndrome is distinguished by a variety of polythematic delusions, but hallucinations and mental automatisms are either completely absent or occur sporadically. Delusional ideas in adolescence have the following features. Delusional relationship occurs more often than others. The teenager believes that everyone looks at him in a special way, grins, and whispers to each other. The reason for this attitude is most often seen in defects in one’s appearance - an ugly figure, small stature in comparison with peers. The teenager is sure that from his eyes they guess that he was engaged in masturbation, or are suspected of some unseemly acts. Relationship ideas become aggravated when surrounded by unfamiliar peers, among the public staring from side to side, in transport carriages. Delusions of persecution often associated with information gleaned from detective films. The teenager is pursued by special organizations, foreign intelligence services, gangs of terrorists and currency traders, robber gangs, and the mafia. Agents sent everywhere are seen watching him and preparing reprisals. Delirium of influence also sensitively reflects the trends of the times. If earlier we were more often talking about hypnosis, now - about the telepathic transmission of thoughts and orders at a distance, about the action of invisible laser beams, radioactivity, etc. Psychic automatisms (“thoughts are stolen from the head” can also be associated with ideas of influence). “they put orders into your head”) and ridiculous hypochondriacal nonsense (“they spoiled the blood”, “affected the genitals”, etc.). Nonsense of other people's parents was described as characteristic of adolescence [Sukhareva G. E., 1937]. The patient “discovers” that his parents are not his own, that he accidentally ended up with them in early childhood (“they got mixed up in the maternity hospital”), that they feel this and therefore treat him badly, want to get rid of him, and imprison him in a psychiatric hospital. Real parents often occupy a high position. Dysmorphomanic delirium differs from dysmorphomania with sluggish neurosis-like schizophrenia in that imaginary deformities are attributed to someone’s evil influence or receive another delusional interpretation (bad heredity, improper upbringing, parents did not care about proper physical development, etc.). Delirium of infection Teenagers often have a hostile attitude towards their mother, who is accused of being unclean and spreading infection. Thoughts about contracting sexually transmitted diseases are especially common, especially in adolescents who have not had sexual intercourse. Hypochondriacal delirium in adolescence, it often affects two areas of the body - the heart and genitals. Differential diagnosis must be made with reactive paranoids if the paranoid syndrome arose after mental trauma. Currently, reactive paranoids in adolescents are quite rare. They can be encountered in the situation of a forensic psychiatric examination [Natalevich E. S. et al., 1976], as well as as a consequence of a real danger to the life and well-being of a teenager and his loved ones (attacks by bandits, disasters, etc.) . The picture of reactive paranoid is usually limited to delusions of persecution and relation. Hallucinatory (usually illusory) experiences arise episodically and in content are always closely related to delusion. The development of reactive paranoids in adolescents can be facilitated by an environment of constant danger and extreme mental stress, especially if they are combined with lack of sleep, as was the case in areas temporarily occupied by the Nazis during the Great Patriotic War [Skanavi E. E., 1962]. But mental trauma can also be a provocateur for the onset of schizophrenia. The provoking role of mental trauma becomes obvious when the paranoid syndrome drags on long after the traumatic situation has passed, and also if delusions of persecution and relationships are joined by other types of delusions that do not in any way arise from the experiences caused by mental trauma, and, finally, if hallucinations begin to occupy an increasing place in the clinical picture and at least fleeting symptoms of mental automatisms appear. Prolonged reactive paranoids are not characteristic of adolescence.

It is natural for patients diagnosed with paranoid syndrome to constantly remain in a near-delirium state. Moreover, people with such a disorder are divided into two types: those who can systematize their delirium, and those who are unable to do this. In the first case, the patient clearly understands and can tell others when he noticed that he was being watched; can name the date of the onset of a persistent feeling of anxiety, how it manifests itself, and, moreover, even names a specific person from whom he feels danger.

Most patients, unfortunately, cannot systematize delirium. They understand their condition in general terms and create conditions for preserving life: they often change their place of residence, observe increased security measures in various situations, and lock all doors.

The most well-known human disorder is schizophrenia - a paranoid syndrome in which thinking is partially or completely impaired and does not correspond to natural ones.

Causes of the disease

Doctors find it difficult to name the exact cause or their complex, which can provoke a violation of a person’s psycho-emotional state. The etiology can be completely different and is formed under the influence of genetics, stressful situations, congenital or acquired neurological pathologies, or due to changes in brain chemistry.

Some clinical cases of the development of paranoid syndrome still have a clearly established cause. To a greater extent, they occur under the influence of psychotropic and narcotic substances and alcohol on the body.

Classification and symptoms of the disorder

Doctors agree that they are paranoid and have similar symptoms:

  • patients are more likely to be in a state of secondary delirium, which manifests itself in the form of various images, rather than in a state of primary delirium, when they do not understand what is happening to them;
  • in each clinical case, a predominance of auditory hallucinations over visual phenomena was noted;
  • the state of delirium is systematized, which allows the patient to tell the reason and name the date of origin of anxious feelings;
  • in most cases, each patient clearly understands that someone is spying on him or stalking him;
  • the views, gestures and speech of strangers are associated with hints and a desire to harm them;
  • sensory impairment.

Paranoid syndrome can develop in one of two directions: delusional or hallucinatory. The first case is more severe, because the patient does not make contact with the attending physician and loved ones; accordingly, making an accurate diagnosis is impossible and is postponed indefinitely. Treatment of delusional paranoid syndrome takes longer and requires strength and perseverance.

Hallucinatory paranoid syndrome is considered a mild form of the disorder, which is due to the patient’s sociability. In this case, the prognosis for recovery looks more optimistic. The patient's condition can be acute or chronic.

Hallucinatory-paranoid syndrome

This syndrome is a complex mental disorder of a person, in which he feels the constant presence of strangers who are spying on him and want to cause physical harm, even murder. It is accompanied by frequent occurrence of hallucinations and pseudohallucinations.

In most clinical cases, the syndrome is preceded by the strongest in the form of aggression and neurosis. Patients are in a constant feeling of fear, and their delirium is so diverse that against its background the development of automaticity of the psyche occurs.

The progression of the disease has three stable stages, following one after another:

  1. A lot of thoughts swarm in the patient’s head, which every now and then pop up on top of those that have just disappeared, but at the same time it seems to him that every person who sees the patient clearly reads thoughts and knows what he is thinking about. In some cases, it seems to the patient that the thoughts in his head, not his, but those of strangers, are imposed by someone through the power of hypnosis or other influence.
  2. At the next stage, the patient feels an increase in the heart rate, the pulse becomes incredibly fast, cramps and withdrawal begin in the body, and the temperature rises.
  3. The culmination of the condition is the patient's awareness that he is in the mental power of another being and no longer belongs to himself. The patient is sure that someone is controlling him by penetrating his subconscious.

Hallucinatory-paranoid syndrome is characterized by the frequent appearance of pictures or images, blurry or clear spots, while the patient cannot clearly describe what he sees, but only convinces others of the influence of an outside force on his thoughts.

Depressive-paranoid syndrome

The main cause of this form of the syndrome is the experience of a complex traumatic factor. The patient feels depressed and is in a state of depression. If these feelings are not overcome at the initial stage, sleep disturbance subsequently develops, up to complete absence, and the general condition is characterized by lethargy.

Patients with depressive-paranoid syndrome experience four stages of disease progression:

  • lack of joy in life, decreased self-esteem, impaired sleep and appetite, sexual desire;
  • the emergence of conditions caused by the lack of meaning in life;
  • the desire to commit suicide becomes persistent, the patient can no longer be convinced otherwise;
  • the last stage is delirium in all its manifestations, the patient is sure that all the troubles in the world are his fault.

This form of paranoid syndrome develops over a fairly long period of time, about three months. Patients become skinny, their blood pressure is compromised, and their cardiac function suffers.

Description of manic-paranoid syndrome

Manic-paranoid syndrome is characterized by elevated mood for no good reason, patients are quite active and mentally excited, they think very quickly and immediately reproduce everything they think. This condition is episodic and is caused by emotional outbursts of the subconscious. In some cases, it occurs under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Patients are dangerous to others because they are prone to pursuing the opposite sex for sexual purposes, with possible physical harm.

Quite often, the syndrome develops against the background of severe stress. Patients are confident that those around them are plotting criminal acts against them. This results in a constant state of aggression and mistrust; they become withdrawn.

Diagnostic methods

If paranoid syndrome is suspected, it is necessary to take the person to a clinic, where they should undergo a thorough general medical examination. This is a method of differential diagnosis and allows us to clearly exclude mental disorders associated with stress.

When the examination is completed, but the cause remains unclear, the psychologist will schedule a personal consultation, during which a number of special tests will be performed.

Relatives should be prepared for the fact that after the first communication with the patient, the doctor will not be able to make a final diagnosis. This is due to reduced communication skills of patients. Long-term observation of the patient and constant monitoring of symptomatic manifestations are required.

For the entire diagnostic period, the patient will be placed in a special medical facility.

Treatment of patients diagnosed with paranoid syndrome

Depending on what symptoms the paranoid syndrome shows, in each clinical case the treatment regimen is selected individually. In modern medicine, most mental disorders can be successfully treated.

The attending physician will prescribe the necessary antipsychotics, which, when taken in combination, will help bring the patient into a stable mental state. The duration of therapy, depending on the severity of the syndrome, is from a week to one month.

In exceptional cases, if the form of the disease is mild, the patient can undergo therapy on an outpatient basis.

Drug therapy

The leading specialist in solving problems of mental personality disorder is a psychotherapist. In certain cases, if the disease is caused by the influence of drugs or alcohol, a specialist must work in tandem with a narcologist. Depending on the degree of complexity of the syndrome, medications will be selected individually.

For the treatment of mild forms, the following remedies are indicated:

  • "Propazine."
  • "Etaperazine."
  • "Levomepromazine."
  • "Aminazine."
  • "Sonapax".

Moderate syndrome is treated with the following drugs:

  • "Aminazine."
  • "Chlorprothixene".
  • "Haloperidol."
  • "Levomepromazine."
  • "Triftazine".
  • "Trifluperidol".

In difficult situations, doctors prescribe:

  • "Tizercin."
  • "Haloperidol."
  • "Moditen Depot".
  • "Leponex".

The attending physician determines which medications to take, their dosage and regimen.

Prognosis for recovery

It is possible to achieve a stage of stable remission in a patient diagnosed with paranoid syndrome, provided that the request for medical help was made in the first days of detection of mental abnormalities. In this case, therapy will be aimed at preventing the development of the exacerbation stage of the syndrome.

It is impossible to achieve an absolute cure for paranoid syndrome. The patient’s relatives should remember this, but with an adequate attitude to the situation, the disease can be prevented from worsening.