Delusions consist of a firm belief about a conviction that is different from reality, that is, it is an imaginary and false condition. However, people who suffer from them are incapable of accepting this falsehood, something that affects their lives and can even lead to violent behavior or reactions. It is not a disorder in itself, but is part of others, as one more manifestation of these. There are different types of delusions classified by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association. One of them is somatic delusions.
Each of the categories of delusions presents a series of very particular characteristics, although they all have in common the essence of being false beliefs that considerably affect the lives of patients. In the case of somatic delirium, it influences how people perceive their physical appearance, which brings with it high levels of distress for patients, who find it very difficult to convince that their symptoms are not real.
Somatic delirium consists of people who manifest it perceiving their physical appearance in an altered way, in addition to considering that certain functions of their body are functioning inadequately, among other types of symptoms. Sometimes proving that patients’ beliefs are wrong can be especially difficult, so it will be very difficult to get them out of their delirium. They may even become violent and exhibit aggressive behavior.
There are mainly two types of somatic delusions. One of them has to do with the belief in practically impossible facts. For example, the patient is convinced that an organ was secretly removed during surgery. The other type is characterized by more feasible delusions, one of the most common being the conviction of having parasites in the stomach.
Cases of somatic delirium generate a whole series of consequences for patients, both related to their mental and emotional health, and to the way in which their social and professional lives are negatively affected. Therefore, if you suspect that this delirium occurs, it will be essential to go to a specialized professional as soon as possible, so that a diagnosis can be made.
The way to deal with somatic delirium focuses on two ways: psychotherapy and medications. Although it will always be key to find the underlying cause that has led to these delusions, which generate great stress in the patient and their environment, so it is advisable to treat them with understanding and patience.
