Delusional Disorder Websites Reviewed by Todd Gibbs. Wikipedia s introductory paragraph describes the general diagnostic criteria for

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1 Delusional Disorder Websites Reviewed by Todd Gibbs Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia (2010). Delusional disorder. Wikipedia s introductory paragraph describes the general diagnostic criteria for Delusional Disorder, noting that it is considered a psychotic disorder characterized by the presence of fixed beliefs that are plausible but false. The next section lists ten indicators of delusional thinking, followed by a list of six features of the disorder. The article concludes by specifying the six types of the disorder according to the DSM, some internet links both within and external to Wikipedia, a brief reference list, and suggestions for further reading. It is interesting to note that one of the reading suggestions is the DSM-IV-TR. The entry for Delusional Disorder found on this website essentially represents a simplified version of the diagnosis as described by the DSM-IV-TR. The manual presumes a conceptual understanding of delusions, and focuses on clarifying whether the delusion is nonbizarre whereas Wikipedia gives a list intended to describe what constitutes delusional thoughts. I found as I read the list that the factors (e.g. expresses a belief with unusual persistence, alters way of life, overwhelms other elements of person s psyche) could be used to articulate concepts other than delusions, such as fundamentalism. Apart from this criticism, the content of the website is straightforward and aligns with the official description of the disorder. A vulnerability to Wikipedia in general is that the content can be altered by any user at any time, so the system for substantiating the accuracy of each page is not necessarily stable over time. However, clients from non-academic backgrounds may accept the material as equally relevant to the information they receive from their clinician.

2 WebMD, LLC. (2010). Mental health and delusional disorder. The most immediate, noticeable attribute of the WebMD site is that the link for Delusional Disorder sends the user to a page under the heading Schizophrenia Health Center. The left-hand column lists links under titles such as Schizophrenia Health Home and Schizophrenia Health Guide while an additional column to the right of the article lists Hot Topics in Schizophrenia. It may be that one who comes to this site seeking information related to Delusional Disorder will become convinced that they either have Schizophrenia, or are likely to develop a manifestation of it at some point in the future. While both disorders share the same chapter of the DSM-IV-TR, the manual states that the psychotic disorders have been grouped together to facilitate differential diagnosis rather than to indicate additional connections. Following this jarring introduction, the website presents a substantial amount of useful information related to Delusional Disorder including types, etiology, diagnostic procedures, treatment, and potential complications. The treatment section encourages engagement with counseling by noting that the disorder does not generally respond to medicine alone. This section includes hyperlinks to supplementary pages for the words medicine, listing common pharmaceuticals for different disorders, and psychotherapy, describing common formats and approaches in a non-stigmatizing manner. The overall content of the webpage is both accurate and phrased in a supportive and encouraging manner. While there is much to commend WebMD as a resource, it is difficult to believe that the organizational design of the website would not generate significant anxiety through assumptions that could be made based upon grouping Delusional Disorder under a broader label of Schizophrenia.

3 Eifert, D. R. (2010). Encyclopedia of mental disorders: Delusional disorder. A Google search for Delusional Disorder returns 199,000 possible links. Therefore, it is encouraging that the third link on that list is to a webpage that contains both the name of the researcher as well as a list of resources including peer-reviewed publications that were referenced in the writing of the article. The content on this website closely follows the pattern and content of the DSM-IV-TR, but explains the concepts in a more accessible form with plainly worded descriptions for each example given. The article is contained within one page, and lists a definition and description of the disorder, followed by its various forms. It then observes how delusions relate to other disorders with an eye to differential diagnosis, followed by causes and symptoms which are referenced directly from the DSM-IV-TR. Sections for diagnosis, treatment and prognosis follow. Under prognosis there are percentages given for treatment statistics, a distinctive feature of this site. Finally, the article offers a list of resources for further information and finishes with contact information for the National Association for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). However, the NAMI site has no information related to Delusional Disorder, so the salient information from that link relates to general advocacy for mental illness. This site has many strengths. The information flows from start to finish, and is at once easily understood and accurate. The article gives the most clear distinction between the admittedly subjective terminology of bizarre versus non-bizarre delusions that I encountered anywhere. It offers workable definitions of the various types of Delusional Disorder, and includes cultural considerations regarding diagnosis. The only criticism for this site is that the hosting organization has chosen to use Google Ads to financially sustain the page on the internet. Therefore the initial presentation is less professional in appearance, as the article is

4 separated from the header by product links that only marginally relate to the content. It may be that a client would not trust this site as much as others that appear more polished despite the quality of the content. Merck Research Laboratories. (2010). The Merck manuals online medical library: Delusional disorder. This website is a concise overview of Delusional Disorder that reads more like a list of bullet points than an article. The version of the Merck Manual posted here states that it is designed for patients and caregivers, so while the information is not exhaustive, the various sections encompass the most salient information related to the disorder stated in plain and clear language. There is a one sentence description of the disorder followed by a list of bulleted points with tangential information to the original description. The site then lists the various forms and symptoms as well as a two sentence summary of the diagnostic process. It is surprising that of all the sections on various web pages related to prognosis and treatment, it is the website affiliated with a major pharmaceutical company that states, antipsychotic drugs are not generally used but are sometimes effective whereas other sites have offered extensive lists of neuroleptics associated with psychotic disorders. A strength of the site is that it offers a brief statement for each area of interest related to the disorder that would help most people to gain a quick understanding. The information is accurate and to the point. However, I suspect that clients seeking further understanding of their diagnosis would not be satisfied with the information presented here, and would instead continue to search for sites with a greater depth of information. Thus, while it is not an entirely sufficient resource, it represents a good place to begin gaining a conceptual grasp of the disorder.

5 PsychForums.com. (2010). Delusional disorder forum. In addition to content-based sites, I also wanted to examine a user-driven message board related to Delusional Disorder. It required some digging through the list of links on Google to find this site, but there are a number of interesting threads to follow and discover the solutions that people generate, seemingly to avoid interaction with the professional mental health world. Many of the posts on this site discuss relationships and prescriptions with primary care physicians, despite the fact that a psychotic disorder seems likely to be beyond the scope of practice for most general practitioners. Other posts reflect discoveries from the self-help world. One user writes about the miracle cure of self-hypnosis that she discovered by taking a couple books out from her local library. A prominent form of entry is from people seeking help because an immediate family member either has, or is suspected of having Delusional Disorder. Members tend to be very responsive to these posts, making empathetic statements that align emotionally with the original writer while attempting to help them navigate the situation. Most of the above content was expected, and did not strike me as either particularly helpful beyond the concept of universality, or harmful, except insofar as it may keep people from seeking professional treatment. However, an entirely new world opened up with a post related to Gang Stalking Denial Syndrome. It was difficult to sort through the confusing statements made by many of those with submissions to this post. However, the content therein contains links to another site: which is dedicated to promoting the message that those who deny persecutory delusions are in fact suffering from Delusional Disorder, because the government is, in fact, out to get you. This example of Delusional Disorder is helpful as a clinician in understanding how this condition might manifest with a client, but could be

6 extremely destructive for an individual seeking treatment by fostering mistrust and supporting the delusions that have limited their ability to function successfully in society.