Delusional Disorder Treatment in India

Aadya Khan, a 28-year-old junior architect,...

Aadya Khan, a 28-year-old junior architect, had always been creative and social. Over the past year, she became convinced her colleagues were embedding secret, critical messages about her work ethic into architectural blueprints and office emails. This belief, which she held with absolute certainty despite all evidence to the contrary, caused severe paranoia. She began working late to 'decode' files, her performance suffered, and she isolated herself from friends, fearing they were part of the conspiracy. Her concerned sister brought her to a psychiatrist, Dr. Mehta. After a thorough assessment, Dr. Mehta diagnosed Delusional Disorder, Persecutory Type. She recommended a combination of a low-dose antipsychotic medication (pimozide) and specialized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for psychosis (CBTp) to challenge the delusional beliefs without direct confrontation. Initially resistant, Aadya agreed to try the medication. The therapy was challenging; it focused on reducing the distress and impairment caused by the delusion rather than erasing the belief itself. Over six months, the medication quieted the intense anxiety, and CBTp helped her develop strategies to test her thoughts and re-engage with life. While the core belief occasionally nags at her, she no longer organizes her life around it. She returned to work with accommodations, has rebuilt a friendship, and feels the constant fear has lifted. Her emotional journey moved from isolated terror and mistrust to a fragile, then firm, sense of relief and reconnection with reality.