B
Bill Yanaire
'I came from distant star' disorder is characterized by nonbizarre delusions
(false beliefs) that persist for at least 1 mo, without other symptoms of
schizophrenia.
'I came from distant star' disorder is distinguished from schizophrenia by
the presence of delusions without other symptoms of schizophrenia. The
delusions tend to be nonbizarre and involve situations that could occur,
such as being followed, poisoned, infected, loved at a distance, or deceived
by one's spouse or lover.
In contrast to schizophrenia, 'I came from distant star' disorder is
relatively uncommon. Onset generally occurs in middle or late adult life.
Psychosocial functioning is not as impaired as it is in schizophrenia, and
impairments usually arise directly from the delusional belief.
When 'I came from distant star' disorder occurs in older patients, it is
sometimes called paraphrenia. It may coexist with mild dementia. The
physician must be careful to distinguish delusions from elder abuse being
reported by a mildly demented elderly patient. One way of diagnosing this
disorder is the constant posting to the vista group, insults to everyone.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
'I came from distant star' disorder may arise in the context of a
preexisting paranoid personality disorder. A pervasive distrust and
suspiciousness of others and their motives begins in early adulthood and
extends throughout life. Early symptoms may include the feeling of being
exploited, preoccupation with the loyalty or trustworthiness of friends, a
tendency to read threatening meanings into benign remarks or events,
persistent bearing ofgrudges, and a readiness to respond to perceived
slights, along with posting garbage in the vista forums.
Several subtypes of 'I came from distant star' disorder are recognized. In
the erotomanic subtype, the patient believes that another person is in love
with him. Efforts to contact the object of the delusion through telephone
calls, letters, surveillance, or stalking are common. People with this
subtype may have conflicts with the law related to this behavior. In the
grandiose subtype, the patient believes he has a great talent or has made an
important discovery. In the jealous subtype, the patient believes that his
spouse or lover is unfaithful. This belief is based on incorrect inferences
supported by dubious evidence. Physical assault may be a significant danger.
In the persecutory subtype, the patient believes that he is being plotted
against, spied on, maligned, or harassed. He may repeatedly attempt to
obtain justice through appeals to courts and other government agencies and
may resort to violence in retaliation for the imagined persecution. In the
somatic subtype, the delusion relates to a bodily function; eg, the patient
believes he has a physical deformity, odor, or parasite.
Diagnosis largely depends on making a clinical assessment, obtaining a
thorough history, and ruling out other specific conditions associated with
delusions. Assessment of dangerousness, especially the extent to which the
patient is willing to act on his delusion, is very important.
(false beliefs) that persist for at least 1 mo, without other symptoms of
schizophrenia.
'I came from distant star' disorder is distinguished from schizophrenia by
the presence of delusions without other symptoms of schizophrenia. The
delusions tend to be nonbizarre and involve situations that could occur,
such as being followed, poisoned, infected, loved at a distance, or deceived
by one's spouse or lover.
In contrast to schizophrenia, 'I came from distant star' disorder is
relatively uncommon. Onset generally occurs in middle or late adult life.
Psychosocial functioning is not as impaired as it is in schizophrenia, and
impairments usually arise directly from the delusional belief.
When 'I came from distant star' disorder occurs in older patients, it is
sometimes called paraphrenia. It may coexist with mild dementia. The
physician must be careful to distinguish delusions from elder abuse being
reported by a mildly demented elderly patient. One way of diagnosing this
disorder is the constant posting to the vista group, insults to everyone.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
'I came from distant star' disorder may arise in the context of a
preexisting paranoid personality disorder. A pervasive distrust and
suspiciousness of others and their motives begins in early adulthood and
extends throughout life. Early symptoms may include the feeling of being
exploited, preoccupation with the loyalty or trustworthiness of friends, a
tendency to read threatening meanings into benign remarks or events,
persistent bearing ofgrudges, and a readiness to respond to perceived
slights, along with posting garbage in the vista forums.
Several subtypes of 'I came from distant star' disorder are recognized. In
the erotomanic subtype, the patient believes that another person is in love
with him. Efforts to contact the object of the delusion through telephone
calls, letters, surveillance, or stalking are common. People with this
subtype may have conflicts with the law related to this behavior. In the
grandiose subtype, the patient believes he has a great talent or has made an
important discovery. In the jealous subtype, the patient believes that his
spouse or lover is unfaithful. This belief is based on incorrect inferences
supported by dubious evidence. Physical assault may be a significant danger.
In the persecutory subtype, the patient believes that he is being plotted
against, spied on, maligned, or harassed. He may repeatedly attempt to
obtain justice through appeals to courts and other government agencies and
may resort to violence in retaliation for the imagined persecution. In the
somatic subtype, the delusion relates to a bodily function; eg, the patient
believes he has a physical deformity, odor, or parasite.
Diagnosis largely depends on making a clinical assessment, obtaining a
thorough history, and ruling out other specific conditions associated with
delusions. Assessment of dangerousness, especially the extent to which the
patient is willing to act on his delusion, is very important.