Delusion(1)

[Willie]

In the psychiatry, I review what I jogged down as an intern and found something about delusion and I thought it was kind of fun. Spend a little time to it if you are interested.

Delusion is quite an interesting diagnosis. Some people keep thinking that they are loved by others of higher status. They have the erotomanic type. Another type is called the grandiose type. Some entertainers think they are the most beautiful girls in the world. They have the most handsome, tender, and considerate boy friends in the world. Some think they have an intimate relationship with a mayor. I believe you know a lot of examples about this type of delusion. Jerusalem Syndrome was categorized in the grandiose type by some people too. And the most infamous example is Michael Rohan burned down a Mosque after he visted Jarusalem.

[CarmenTao]

My friend, Jane, also had delusion. I don't know if she still has it now. She suspended schooling in the fist year of senior high. She called me almost every day then and kept telling me that her last life was a Fairy Maiden of One Hundred Flowers (百花仙子) and she'd go back to heaven soon. Her family sent her to the doctor and she started to take medicine thereafter. One year later, she resumed schooling.

We met again during college years in an extracurricular activity. We joined the same chorus. Even after we graduated from college, we also joined another chorus together.

I've lost contact with her for long probably because I rarely turn on my cellphone. A member of the last chorus that we joined together has been a dentist at Chang Gang Memorial Hospital. The dentist had a chance to examine Jane's teeth, so she could see Jane's medical history. Jane was taking depression pills then. Anyway, I hope she's recovered.

Here is the question. Jane was a very obsessive person and very strict with her own academic performances when we were in the same class. She set a high standard in everything and everyone. Could this be one of the factors that resulted in her delusion?

[Willie]

It is a complicated question.

You talk about perfectionism. I think it is more about personality. the 2nd axis of the diagnosis in psychiatry is the personality.

People who suffered from Narcissistic personality disorder have a higher chance to become a perfectiionist, but not all perfectionists get Narcissistic personality disorder. If your friend couldn't even tolerate to be the second best in the class then I would say she had problems. But if she was fine to be the third or the forth, then maybe it was not that serious.