Schizophrenia and religious delusions

[Rum]

When I worked as a psychiatric social worker way back in the 80s (a job I didn't enjoy and left after a couple of years I will add), part of my job was to assess people in acute stages of psychosis in order to add my opinion to those of a doctor and/or psychiatrist about whether or not to 'section' them, i.e. deprive them of their liberty because they were a 'danger to themselves or others'. Psychosis is a catch all term and effectively means 'mad'. It is most usually caused by schizophrenia, though all sorts of conditions as well as substances can cause it.

One of the relatively common features I came across about people suffering from high blown symptoms were delusional religious ideas. Examples include believing oneself to be Jesus, God, a saint of some sort or perhaps in direct communication with a god. Often the patient might believe that they had discovered knowledge or some sort of insight into some aspect of religion that others did not have. Often they 'know' these religious 'truths' - it wasn't a matter of belief but internal knowledge and certainty. Schizophrenia tends to be volatile and the nature of the delusions might evolve over time but they would usually assume that the knowledge the patient had was being played out in the world - thus paranoia about conspiracies, agents at work and all of that stuff tended to creep in. It is also worth noting that acute episodes can subside and the person concerned can function more or less normally, while stiff living with the delusions and sometimes auditory and occasionally visual hallucinations.

Often too, the raging certainty of these delusions went along with grandiose views about oneself, the inferiority of others and yet, oddly enough, a deep sense of personal insecurity in many cases.

I've been reading up on some of the stuff around the issue in light of some recent posts on the forum. I see a lot of the above at play in those posts. I can't be certain of course but I would guess that the person in question is quite ill. Rather than join in the 'fun' in the thread I thought I would post this separately. I doubt this post will make him seek help but I wish it would.

[pErvinalia]

There seems to be two prime candidates for this, not one. In fact I often wonder if they are the same (physical) person.

[Rum]

There seems to be two prime candidates for this, not one. In fact I often wonder if they are the same (physical) person.

I have wondered that too. I think it is unlikely - there is a difference in tone. If it is we are looking at super trolling.

In any case I realised that getting into conflict with our latest arrival is not helpful to him or the forum. So I will try to stick with 'concerned'. Hard when so much nonsense is spewed onto the forum at times.

[pErvinalia]

I was thinking more "split personality".

[Rum]

I was thinking more "split personality".

Possible, but much rarer than the movies would have us believe!

[Joe]

How accurate is diagnosing somebody by what they write? I read these posts and they seem off, but I'm no clinician.

For all I know, it could be an elaborate troll.

[Rum]

How accurate is diagnosing somebody by what they write? I read these posts and they seem off, but I'm no clinician.

For all I know, it could be an elaborate troll.

It isn't at all accurate and I have been at pains to say that now and again. It's an educated guess. - and of course he could be a troll - though even the best of them get bored and tired of keeping an elaborate show like his on the road.

[Joe]

Sorry, I wasn't implying otherwise, just musing in print. I've read the entire thread now, and the Rational Wiki entry for this guy. It claims he was diagnosed with bipolar and substance use disorders as the result of a court ordered 30 day evaluation, resulting from charges of criminal harassment.

It also claims he's a notorious troll, and he's certainly acting like it. You're right, it's troubling.

[Rum]

Are we sure it is the same guy?

[JimC]

The voices in my head have voted, and the count is 87% in favour of it being the same guy...

[Rum]

Well if it is he has been banned from posting on social media and internet forums - and is still on (or possible just finished) a period of probation.

[pErvinalia]

Whoever it is, he needs to see a doctor.

[Hermit]

Whoever it is, he needs to see a doctor.

He's been seeing a doctor since 2003.

[pErvinalia]

He might be off his meds.

[laklak]

I'd have posted here earlier, but the voices kept telling me to stop and clean the guns.