Delusional Disorder: Paranoia and Related Illnesses

by Alistair Munro

Overview

Delusional disorder, once termed paranoia, was an important diagnosis in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Only in 1987 was it reintroduced into modern psychiatric diagnosis after being incorporated with schizophrenia. This book provides a comprehensive review of delusional disorder for psychiatrists and other clinicians. Beginning with the emergence of the concept of delusional disorder, the book goes on to detail its manifold presentations, differential diagnosis and treatment. The author provides many instructive case histories, illustrating manifestations of the various subtypes of delusional disorder, and related conditions in the paranoid spectrum. This is the most wide-ranging and authoritative text on the subject to have appeared for many years, and the first to suggest—based on the author's extensive experience—that the category of delusional disorder should contain not one but several conditions. It also emphasizes that, contrary to traditional belief, delusional disorder is a treatable illness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521029803
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	11/02/2006
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	276
Sales rank:	687,298
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.71(d)

About the Author

Munro, Alistair (Dalhousie Univ)

Table of Contents

List of case descriptions; Preface; Part I. Delusional Disorders and Delusions: Introductory Aspects: 1. Outline and introduction: a brief perspective on the delusional disorders; Part II. Descriptive and Clinical Aspects of Paranoia/Delusional Disorder: 2. Paranoia or delusional disorder; 3. Delusional disorder, somatic subtype; 4. Delusional disorder, jealousy subtype; 5. Delusional disorder, erotomanic subtype; 6. Delusional disorder, persecutory/litigious and grandiose subtypes; Part III. 'Paranoid Spectrum' Illnesses which should be Included in the Category of Delusional Disorder: 7. Paraphrenia and paranoid schizophrenia; 8. 'Late' paraphrenia and late onset schizophrenia; 9. Delusional misidentification syndrome; 10. Folie à deux: an accompaniment of illnesses with delusions; Part IV. Illnesses which are Liable to be Misdiagnosed as Delusional Disorders: 11. Reactive and cycloid psychoses: the acute and transient psychotic disorders; 12. Non-psychotic disorders which may simulate delusional disorders; Part V. Treatment of Delusional Disorder and Overall Conclusions: 13. The treatment of delusional disorder; 14. Conclusions; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Munro has done members of the medical and legal professions a service by providing cogent synthesis of difficult material. His book will be of great interest not only to those in the mental health field but also to dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and lawyers, who often unwittingly must deal with delusional persons." New England Journal of Medicine

"The book is clear, well written and well illustrated with clinical case vignettes. It is well produced. Recommended for institutional as well as personal libraries." Behaviour Research and Therapy

From the Publisher

3 Stars from Doody

Munro has done members of the medical and legal professions a service by providing a cogent synthesis of difficult material. His book will be of great interest not only to those in the mental health field but also to dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and lawyers, who often unwittingly must deal with delusional persons.

New England Journal of Medicine

This book is focused on the fascinating but often forgotten illness, delusional disorder. The author discusses the paraphrenias, cycloid psychoses, paranoid schizophrenia, and schizotypal and schizoid personality disorders. Special attention is given to the tentative conclusion that Pimozide is the most effective agent for treatment. The purpose is to present history, modern views, and recent research of delusional disorder, along with a summary of treatment recommendations. While this book is clearly intended for psychiatrists, the elegant yet lucid prose and handsome binding come somewhat as a surprise. The author's easy presentation can be deceptive. While there are no charts, graphs, or diagrams, and there is a definite de-emphasis on epidemiological data, quite a bit of clinical information is given in the way of anecdotes, case presentations, and reviews of the literature on relevant topics. These are well annotated; the reference lists themselves are invaluable for those interested in doing more in depth reading. Munro's method would best be compared to Kraeplin. He is most concerned with phenomenology, history, and outcome. There is very little speculation about causation, either psychological or biological. Those readers intent on finding a comprehensive review of the literature on this topic will be disappointed. However, those willing to put trust in the author's extensive clinical experience with this disorder, as well his logical, concise summaries of the limited but interesting research, will find this an interesting book on an elusive disorder.

Royce Lee

Reviewer: Royce Lee, MD (Rush University Medical Center)
Description: This book is focused on the fascinating but often forgotten illness, delusional disorder. The author discusses the paraphrenias, cycloid psychoses, paranoid schizophrenia, and schizotypal and schizoid personality disorders. Special attention is given to the tentative conclusion that Pimozide is the most effective agent for treatment.
Purpose: The purpose is to present history, modern views, and recent research of delusional disorder, along with a summary of treatment recommendations.
Audience: While this book is clearly intended for psychiatrists, the elegant yet lucid prose and handsome binding come somewhat as a surprise.
Features: The author's easy presentation can be deceptive. While there are no charts, graphs, or diagrams, and there is a definite de-emphasis on epidemiological data, quite a bit of clinical information is given in the way of anecdotes, case presentations, and reviews of the literature on relevant topics. These are well annotated; the reference lists themselves are invaluable for those interested in doing more in depth reading.
Assessment: Munro's method would best be compared to Kraeplin. He is most concerned with phenomenology, history, and outcome. There is very little speculation about causation, either psychological or biological. Those readers intent on finding a comprehensive review of the literature on this topic will be disappointed. However, those willing to put trust in the author's extensive clinical experience with this disorder, as well his logical, concise summaries of the limited but interesting research, will find this an interesting book on an elusive disorder.

Doody's Review Service