title: Delusions or obsessions: the same only different? A case report.
abstract: The phenomenological distinction between delusions and obsessions has been the subject of much debate in psychiatry. Some authors feel these symptoms are distinct nosological entities, while others argue that they reflect manifestations of the same symptom and are distinguishable on the basis of the level of insight a patient displays. In this report we describe the case history of a lady who presented with an obsessional disorder. The symptom was resistant to standard treatments and subsequently became more delusional in nature. We review the literature in terms of the classification of obsessions and delusions and offer assistance to clinicians in terms of the diagnosis and treatment of cases where the distinction between these phenomena is not clear and offer alternative means of classifying these symptoms based on insight.
authors.affiliation: Clondalkin Mental Health Services, Clondalkin, Dublin, Ireland. janedavao@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Whitty
authors.forename: Declan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Devitt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003702:Delusions / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009770:Obsessive Behavior / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011599:Psychopathology
chemical_list: D005473:Fluoxetine