Delusional Disorder

Diagnostic Criteria

Nonbizarre delusions (i.e., involving situations that occur in real life, such as being followed, poisoned, infected, loved at a distance, or deceived by spouse or lover, or having a disease) of at least 1 month's duration.

Criterion A for Schizophrenia has never been met. Note: Tactile and olfactory hallucinations may be present in Delusional Disorder if they are related to the delusional theme.
Criterion A of Schizophrenia requires two (or more) of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a 1-month period (or less if successfully treated):

delusions
hallucinations
disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence)
grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
negative symptoms, i.e., affective flattening, alogia, or avolition
Note: Criteria A of Schizophrenia requires only one symptom if delusions are bizarre or hallucinations consist of a voice keeping up a running commentary on the person's behavior or thoughts, or two or more voices conversing with each other.


Apart from the impact of the delusion(s) or its ramifications, functioning is not markedly impaired and behavior is not obviously odd or bizarre.

If mood episodes have occurred concurrently with delusions, their total duration has been brief relative to the duration of the delusional periods.

The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.

Specify type (the following types are assigned based on the predominant delusional theme):
Erotomanic Type: delusions that another person, usually of higher status, is in love with the individual
Grandiose Type: delusions of inflated worth, power, knowledge, identity, or special relationship to a deity or famous person
Jealous Type: delusions that the individual's sexual partner is unfaithful
Persecutory Type: delusions that the person (or someone to whom the person is close) is being malevolently treated in some way
Somatic Type: delusions that the person has some physical defect or general medical condition
Mixed Type: delusions characteristic of more than one of the above types but no one theme predominates
Unspecified Type

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Associated Features
Psychotic
Depressed Mood
Somatic/Sexual Dysfunction
Odd/Eccentric/Suspicious Personality

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Differential Diagnosis
A delirium, a dementia, or Psychotic Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition; Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder; Schizophrenia; Schizophreniform Disorder; Mood Disorders With Psychotic Features; Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified; Depressive Disorder Not Otherwise Specified; Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified; Shared Psychotic Disorder; Brief Psychotic Disorder; Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified; Hypochondriasis; Body Dysmorphic Disorder; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Paranoid Personality Disorder.