Paraphrenia is a mental disorder characterized by an organized system of paranoid delusions with or without hallucinations and without deterioration of intellect or personality.
The main symptoms of paraphrenia are paranoid delusions and hallucinations. The delusions often involve the individual being the subject of persecution, although they can also be erotic, hypochondriacal, or grandiose in nature.
Psychosis. The term paraphrenia was previously used to describe psychotic syndromes in the elderly. Currently used terms are late-onset schizophrenia or late-life psychosis, encompassing delusions and visual and auditory hallucinations arising in late life.
Paraphrenia is considered a rare mental condition, affecting somewhere between 0.1% and 4% of elderly people. It has a much better prognosis than other psychotic disorders, like Schizophrenia, and commonly occurs alongside anxiety and depression spectrum disorders.
What Causes Paraphrenia? Paraphrenia, like other psychotic disorders, likely has genetic origins. However, brain injuries caused by stroke, traumatic brain injuries, or drug and alcohol use can also induce psychotic symptoms.
In the majority of cases, paraphrenia is temporary and can be fully treated, thereby assuring the afflicted patient of a complete recovery. The primary mode of remedying this nervous system ailment is by means of prescription antipsychotic drugs.
The paraphrenia clinical outcome is often satisfactory, with intellectual functioning, daily living, working activity, and social relation generally unimpaired [12]. Despite its chronic and relapsing course, paraphrenia appears to have a good response to antipsychotic medication [1,12].
Psychosis. The term paraphrenia was previously used to describe psychotic syndromes in the elderly. Currently used terms are late-onset schizophrenia or late-life psychosis, encompassing delusions and visual and auditory hallucinations arising in late life.
In 1863, Kahlbaum used the term 'paraphrenia' to refer to insanities related to transitional periods life (there were adolescent and senile forms); Kraepelin used paraphrenia to refer to a form of paranoid psychosis with attenuated hallucinatory disturbances; and Leonhard named with it at least seven types of ...
About two-thirds of people with schizophreniform disorder develop schizophrenia. In some cases, people with schizophreniform disorder also have symptoms of depression, which increases the risk of suicide.
Late paraphrenia is a British concept that includes all delusional disorders starting after age 60.
Paranoid schizophrenia
This is the most common type of schizophrenia. It may develop later in life than other forms. Symptoms include hallucinations and/or delusions, but your speech and emotions may not be affected.
The most prominent thought content disorder seen in schizophrenia is delusions. There are overvalued thoughts at some point between normal thinking and delusion.
Signs and symptoms may vary, but usually involve delusions, hallucinations or disorganized speech, and reflect an impaired ability to function. The effect can be disabling. In most people with schizophrenia, symptoms generally start in the mid- to late 20s, though it can start later, up to the mid-30s.
Schizophrenia in the 20th century
Swiss psychiatrist Eugene Bleuler coined the term “schizophrenia” in 1900, replacing the term “dementia praecox”.
Schizophreniform: You've had psychotic symptoms for at least a month but less than 6 months. Many people with this disorder go on to have schizophrenia. In other words, schizophreniform is often early schizophrenia.
However, the modern concept and name of schizophrenia were shaped in the early 20th century when the Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler (1911) introduced the term as an extension and replacement for what was formerly coined 'dementia praecox' by Emil Kraepelin (1896).
First episode psychosis (FEP) is defined as the first time a person outwardly shows symptoms of psychosis. When patients with FEP become aware of their problems, they show distress and confusion, ruminate their symptoms, and have interpersonal problems caused by enhanced sensitivity (1).
A psychotic episode or disorder will result in the presence of one or more of the following five categories: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thought, disorganized behavior, negative symptoms.
An episode of psychosis is treatable, and it is possible to recover. It is widely accepted that the earlier people get help the better the outcome. 25% of people who develop psychosis will never have another episode, another 50% may have more than one episode but will be able to live normal lives.
While it was once thought to be a disease that only worsened over time, schizophrenia is now known to be manageable thanks to modern treatment practices. With a dedication to ongoing treatment, often beginning with intensive residential care, most individuals can live normal or almost-normal lives.
With schizoaffective disorder, as with other major psychiatric illnesses, individuals can work to achieve their goals and live very full lives.
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality, which can be distressing for them and for their family and friends.