Paraphrenia
Encyclopedia
Paraphrenia is described as a group of psychotic illnesses distinct from paranoia
and from schizophrenia
.. Paraphrenia as a separate disorder is not included in either ICD 10 or DSM IV and is likely to be classified as atypical psychosis
, schizoaffective disorder
or delusional disorder
using these diagnostic systems. In patients suffering from this type of psychosis, personality decay is minimal, and emotional rapport is well retained. The onset occurs around age 40.
Furthermore, paraphrenia is characterized by the preoccupation with one or more semisystematized delusion
s. These delusions are not encapsulated from the rest of the personality as in delusional disorder. The affect is notably well-preserved and appropriate, as is the ability to maintain rapport with others. There is no intellectual deterioration, no flat nor grossly inappropriate affect. Disturbance of behavior is understandable in relation to the content of the delusions. The illness is associated with distress and agitation. Irrational behavior may appear as delusions become more vivid and judgment lessens. Patients may accuse others of persecution and complain to the authorities.
The predisposing factors in the onset of the disease are associated with severe stressors such as social isolation, migrant status and deafness.
in 1863 not to name some specific disorder, but to draw attention that certain psychiatric disorders tend to develop at a certain age. Kahlbaum used for instance to distinguish between paraphrenia hebetica (the insanity
of the adolescence) from paraphrenia senilis (the insanity of the elders).
In 1913 Emil Kraepelin
revived the term to denote a comparatively small group of cases which he thought were sufficiently distinct from schizophrenia. Kraepelin distinguished paraphrenia from schizophrenia mainly by its course; according to him, patients with paraphrenia showed a "far slighter development of the disorders of emotion and volition" compared to schizophrenia. Although Kraepelin did not give an explanation for his choice of terminology, clinical psychologist P. J. McKenna speculates that Kraepelin might have wished to emphasize a relation to paranoid schizophrenia on one hand, and with paranoia
on the other. Kraepelin's paraphrenia concept however was controversial from the outset. One of his contemporaries, Wilhelm Mayer followed up a group of Krapelin's original paraphrenic patients and concluded that with, the passage of time, patients with paraphrenia tend to merge into the pool of chronic schizophrenic patients.
Paranoia
Paranoia [] is a thought process believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs, or beliefs of conspiracy concerning a perceived threat towards oneself...
and from schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
.. Paraphrenia as a separate disorder is not included in either ICD 10 or DSM IV and is likely to be classified as atypical psychosis
Psychosis
Psychosis means abnormal condition of the mind, and is a generic psychiatric term for a mental state often described as involving a "loss of contact with reality"...
, schizoaffective disorder
Schizoaffective disorder
Schizoaffective disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a mental disorder characterized by recurring episodes of elevated or depressed mood, or of simultaneously elevated and depressed mood, that alternate with, or occur together with, distortions in perception.Schizoaffective disorder...
or delusional disorder
Delusional disorder
Delusional disorder is an uncommon psychiatric condition in which patients present with circumscribed symptoms of non-bizarre delusions, but with the absence of prominent hallucinations and no thought disorder, mood disorder, or significant flattening of affect...
using these diagnostic systems. In patients suffering from this type of psychosis, personality decay is minimal, and emotional rapport is well retained. The onset occurs around age 40.
Furthermore, paraphrenia is characterized by the preoccupation with one or more semisystematized delusion
Delusion
A delusion is a false belief held with absolute conviction despite superior evidence. Unlike hallucinations, delusions are always pathological...
s. These delusions are not encapsulated from the rest of the personality as in delusional disorder. The affect is notably well-preserved and appropriate, as is the ability to maintain rapport with others. There is no intellectual deterioration, no flat nor grossly inappropriate affect. Disturbance of behavior is understandable in relation to the content of the delusions. The illness is associated with distress and agitation. Irrational behavior may appear as delusions become more vivid and judgment lessens. Patients may accuse others of persecution and complain to the authorities.
The predisposing factors in the onset of the disease are associated with severe stressors such as social isolation, migrant status and deafness.
History
Paraphrenia was coined by Karl Ludwig KahlbaumKarl Ludwig Kahlbaum
Karl Ludwig Kahlbaum was a German psychiatrist. In 1855 he received his medical doctorate at Berlin, and subsequently worked as a physician at the mental asylum in Wehlau. For a period of time he was also a lecturer at the University of Königsberg , and from 1867 was director of the mental...
in 1863 not to name some specific disorder, but to draw attention that certain psychiatric disorders tend to develop at a certain age. Kahlbaum used for instance to distinguish between paraphrenia hebetica (the insanity
Insanity
Insanity, craziness or madness is a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns. Insanity may manifest as violations of societal norms, including becoming a danger to themselves and others, though not all such acts are considered insanity...
of the adolescence) from paraphrenia senilis (the insanity of the elders).
In 1913 Emil Kraepelin
Emil Kraepelin
Emil Kraepelin was a German psychiatrist. H.J. Eysenck's Encyclopedia of Psychology identifies him as the founder of modern scientific psychiatry, as well as of psychopharmacology and psychiatric genetics. Kraepelin believed the chief origin of psychiatric disease to be biological and genetic...
revived the term to denote a comparatively small group of cases which he thought were sufficiently distinct from schizophrenia. Kraepelin distinguished paraphrenia from schizophrenia mainly by its course; according to him, patients with paraphrenia showed a "far slighter development of the disorders of emotion and volition" compared to schizophrenia. Although Kraepelin did not give an explanation for his choice of terminology, clinical psychologist P. J. McKenna speculates that Kraepelin might have wished to emphasize a relation to paranoid schizophrenia on one hand, and with paranoia
Paranoia
Paranoia [] is a thought process believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs, or beliefs of conspiracy concerning a perceived threat towards oneself...
on the other. Kraepelin's paraphrenia concept however was controversial from the outset. One of his contemporaries, Wilhelm Mayer followed up a group of Krapelin's original paraphrenic patients and concluded that with, the passage of time, patients with paraphrenia tend to merge into the pool of chronic schizophrenic patients.