Descriptive study of the treatment of delusional disorder. Survey study DELIRANDA

Abstract

Introduction

We currently lack clinical guidelines for the treatment of Delusional Disorder (DD) F-22, the low prevalence of the disease coupled with no awareness of illness and poor adherence to prescribed treatment make it difficult to study. The limited evidence available for the treatment is based mainly on clinical series.

Objectives

This study evaluates the knowledge and preferences in the treatment of the DD, in order to improve clinical practice and gain information of the DD to conduct clinical studies of effectiveness of the different treatments.

Material and methods

A self-administered survey was conducted on a sample of 80 psychiatrists proceeding on a wide array of mental health care services. Participants provided socio-demographic data and information about clinical details, together with their opinions regarding the, epidemiological aspects, clinical management, diagnosis and therapy. Descriptive statistics were subsequently calculated with SPSS.

Results

Most of our sample's of Psychiatrists estimated that the DD prevalence was higher than the one previously established. Ninety-three percent of the sample considered the SGAs as the first treatment option in DD, being Aripiprazol 20.7%, Risperidone 17.4% and Paliperidone 15% the first line treatment chosen by our Psychiatrists.

Conclusions and proposals

There is an increasing gap between the old standard DD treatment and the clinical practice of Andalusian Psychiatrists, for this reason we emphasize the need of implementing clinical trials and effectiveness clinical studies.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.