Tuesday, March 31, 2009 Gari asks

Q: When a delusional disorder keeps someone from working or having friends is it schizophrenia?

Is someone with a delusional disorder severe enough that she has not been able to work for the last twenty years able to take care of her aged and ailing mom, who lives an hour away, on her own without outside support?

She is convinced that she has chemical poisoning and that the FBI, Bush etc. are after her, wish her harm, photograph her while she sleeps, etc. and that once she wins her case against them she will be rich...

She is an otherwise warm and highly intelligent woman, but somehow outside of time and very solitary, terribly alone. For the last twenty years all "real" experiences seem to have made no mark on her but to feed this delusion. Is this schizophrenia (she's disorganized, but not totally so) or is it just a fantasy that she fell into long ago that's entrapped her, but somehow on the side and therefore relatively "benign"?

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Answers (2)

Christina Bruni, Health Guide

3/31/09 2:23pm

Hi Gari,

You don't say whether a psychiatrist or other professional diagnosed her with delusional disorder. And only a qualified psychiatrist can diagnose a person as having SZ. I suggest if there's a question about her ability to function in society, you take this person to someone who can diagnose her.

People with SZ, and people with delusional disorder, who have their symptoms under control, can do lots of things: obtain MBAs, work as librarians, go back to school, marry and have children. So I see no reason why someone who has recovered from SZ or delusional disorder can't care for their ailing mom. Key word in that sentence: in recovery and doing well. If managing her symptoms and delusions is a full-time job and she hasn't gotten a handle on that, she has to ask herself if it would be possible for her to care for someone else. It's her choice.

Regards,

Christina

Donna-1

3/31/09 11:51am

There are several disorders that would match the symptoms you list; schizophrenia is one of them. Just from what you have I think sz is probable. Will she be able to take care of her mother? Is she going to move in with her? It sounds like something that could be stressful and many schiziophrenics do not do well under stress. What would be ideal is that she see a psychiatrist and take the medication the doc orders. It can work wonders.

Carolyn

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Q: When a delusional disorder keeps someone from working or having friends is it schizophrenia?

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