Shared Psychotic
Disorder
Shared psychotic disorder is a very rare condition in which people close
to a mentally ill person share his or her false beliefs (delusions).
As an example, a man with schizophrenia may falsely believe that his
children are trying to murder him. His wife develops shared psychotic
disorder and comes to believe it as well. This disorder usually occurs
in long-term relationships and involves two people. However, it can
also develop among members of a group, such as within families. It affects
women more often than men.
Aside from the delusions, the thoughts and behavior of people with shared
psychotic disorder are usually fairly normal.
Someone who is closely associated with a delusional person also develops
a delusion.
The content of this new delusion is similar to that of the first person's
delusion.
The disorder is not explained better by another psychotic disorder,
such as Schizophrenia or Mood
Disorder with Psychotic Features.
This disorder is not directly caused by a general medical condition
or the use of substances, including prescription medications.
Differential
Diagnosis:
Some disorders
have similar or even the same symptom. The clinician, therefore, in
his diagnostic attempt has to differentiate against the following
disorders which he needs to rule out to establish a precise diagnosis.
The cause of shared
psychotic disorder is unknown. Stress is believed to play a role and
a person who experiences extreme isolation can also contribute to
the development of this disorder.
Treatment:
Treatment
will include medication and treating the mentally ill person to whom
you are close. It may also include couples or family psychotherapy.
Counseling
and Psychotherapy [ See
Therapy Section ]:
Cognitive, Behavior, and Psychoanalytic therapies are used to treat
individuals with a shared psychotic disorder.
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