RESUMO
We report a series of 15 patients with delusional (paranoid) disorder as defined in DSM-III-R. All were supervised by a forensic psychiatry service after violent or threatening acts. We hypothesised that delusions and actions in these patients would be congruent with an abnormal mood characterised by fear and anger. Informants and the patients indicated a pervasive and persistent abnormality of mood (fear and defensive anger), with delusions and actions that were congruent with this mood during the offence and for over a month before. Other behaviours, such as fleeing or barricading to avoid delusional persecutors, were also consistent with congruence of mood and delusions. In all cases, violent acts and mood were congruent, but in three cases the violent act was unrelated to delusions. Although a study such as this does not demonstrate that the mood abnormality is primary, we believe moods of fear and anger in delusional disorder are not sufficiently recognised as part of the disorder.
Assuntos
Ira , Transtorno da Personalidade Antissocial/psicologia , Delusões/psicologia , Medo , Transtornos Paranoides/psicologia , Violência , Adolescente , Adulto , Transtorno da Personalidade Antissocial/diagnóstico , Nível de Alerta , Mecanismos de Defesa , Delusões/diagnóstico , Reação de Fuga , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Transtornos Paranoides/diagnóstico , Desenvolvimento da Personalidade , PensamentoRESUMO
A patient with chronic depression responded to treatment for her major depressive episodes, but was left with a dysthymia which was eventually relieved by anticonvulsants. Sodium valproate may be of use in a range of affective disorders.
