Causes Of Delusions

One of the principal mental disorders associated with delusions is schizophrenia. Schizophreniais a severe mental disorder characterized by illogical thinking; often there are other signs and symptoms such as hallucinations. However, it is important to understand that a mental disorder such as schizophrenia is not in and of itself a "cause". The important question is: What causes schizophrenia? There is no single or simple answer to the question. Instead, a number of causal factors appear to play a role. 

First, studies of identical twins and other siblings suggest that genetic factors play a role in the disease. Second, these genetic factors may contribute to an inherited brain defect making it difficult to process information in a conventional way. Third, there is evidence that theneurotransmitter dopamine, a chemical messenger, is overactive in the brains of schizophrenic patients. Fourth, emotional wounds inflicted in early infancy may aggravate the likelihood that the disease will appear later in life. Fifth, parents who confuse a child and who are emotionally distant may also aggravate tendencies to develop schizophrenia. Sixth, environmental triggerssuch as going bankrupt, getting divorced, or losing a loved one may be necessary to "light the fuse" of the disease.

All of these causal factors, interplaying with each other in a complex way, may play a role in the disease and, in turn, its delusions. One important way to explain delusions is to appreciate that they frequently have a meaning. Often, a delusion, or delusional system, represents a psychological need for power in the form of wishful thinking. Waldeman T., the man who said he could walk through walls, was a mild-mannersed, financially unsuccessful salesman for a plumbing company. Kirk Allen had been emotionally crushed in many ways in his early childhood. And he had been sexually abused by a governess. He felt weak and powerless in his actual life, but in his life a great star king, he ruled a galaxy.

Frequently, delusions can be understood as metaphors. Sawyer, who said he was a walking, talking corpse, was in essence saying that he felt as pressing itself. Delusions, if their meanings are sought, provide a kind of window into the troubled person's state of mind.

Delusions can be caused by an actual pathology of the brain and nervous system. Alzheimer's disease, brain tumours, strokes, general paresis(caused by syphilis), and alcohol amnestic disorder is "Korsakoff's psychosis" in honor of the Russian neurologist who first studied it. In alcohol amnestic disorder, there is damage to the brain caused by years of alcohol abuse.

The toxic effects of drugs can induce delusions. Irrational ideas are often present in the altered states of consciousness induced by such drugs as morphine and heroin. Some drugs are actually called psychedelics or hallucinogens because of their ability to greatly alter normal brain processes. Examples of these drugs are cannabis (ie marijuana), hashish, mescaline, psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide-25, and phencyclidine. Finally, it should not be forgotten that alcohol is a drug. Not only can a person have delusions when intoxicated, delusions are a common symptom of delirium tremens, which is caused by withdrawal from a dependence on alcohol.