Information please DELUSIONAL DISORDER, Persecutory, Grandious, & Jelious

My adult son (24) had been living out of state for about 5 years. He contacted us and told us that he had lost his job because his boss didn't understand the great implementations he had put for in the work place and that she felt her job was not safe since he was so much more competent then she. He then told me that his live in girl friend had been unfaithful to him, and that he had taped "proof". Followed her, supprised her and caught her cheating on him, etc. etc. At the time I dismissed his difficulty at work to a wounded ego. and the girlfriend thing to a heart break. We invited him to move back with us. We told him he could stay here and finish college.
Within 2 days of his arrival, his behavior became bizzare. He started telling us that I had mentally & physically abused him when he was a child. He made up grand tales that were total fabrications. Then he told a friend of one of our daughters that he had left a great job and home because we had a family emergency and needed him to move back in. He told his grandmother a whopper about a commercial drivers license and driving a semi. (This we checked out and it was fabrication too). The list of fabrications went on and on. Most of his stories seemed to center on "how awful I was". Odd things like I made him wear golf shoes with cleets to school when he was a teenager. A few days later I asked him if he could have been thinking of his cross country shoes that we had gotten him for track, and he overreacted screaming at me "scarey" that he'd never said anything about the shoes.
Numerious times during his stay here. I would say some unimportant piece if conversation like "company xyz was hiring you should apply". or "I have to go get something from the store." and his reply would be "LIE's Lie's more lies." Once he ask one of his adult sisters if I was born in a certain state and when she replied no Iwas born in a different state, he again replied with "Lies Lies more lies. The last night he was here his dad had called and asked him if he would fly there and pet sit for them for a couple weeks. He got off the phone and screamed at me "You're behind all this." My husband at that point decided we had been through enough and told him to pack his bags. My son screamed "I don't have a problem with anyone here but her (pointing at me)." "She and I are just having it out." In reality we were not "having it out" at all, I was trying to help him out." and for the month he was her had begged everyone in the family to tolerate his bad behavior until we could get him back on his feet.
Also of note... he didn't get out of bed until at least noon the entire month he was here. Didn't clean his room or wash his clothing a single time during the first 3 weeks he was here. His sisters and I washed them for him after the stentch of our guest room where he was residing became overwhelming in the adjacent family room. The entire time he was here he never missed an opportunity to tell us how overqualified he was and how he was much to smart to work for any company that we might suggest. He unplugged his computer that we had set up in the guest room for him so that he could have an excuse to go upstairs to our computer. I still don't understand the reason for that. but he was on our computer for a good 2 hours looking up an address. hmm... (This is someone that makes his living operating computers). I went into the guest room with him latter to find out what the problem was with the computer and as I picked up the cord and said look its unplugged he replied no it isn't. None of the stories he makes up are far fetched to a stranger, and he would probably be believed by most people. but, since we were family, and knew that these were fabrications and that he still chose to say them to us. Leads me to believe he has a mental disorder. Could he have Persecutory, Grandious, & Jelious Delusional disorder, and is the rest of my family physically safe around him? Most of his rage appears to be centered at me (his mom), his exgirlfriend, and his female ex-boss,. Lastly, does this run in family lines? My biological father was a horribley jealous man who was always accusing my mother of horrible bizzare acts of adultry, he would take her keys and purse away and keep her locked up as a virtual prisoner. He became extremely violent as the years went on and hospitalized her several times. My mother was lucky to have survived the ordeal. She's been divorced from him now for about 25 years. Could this disorder continue to progress in my son to violence as well. He will not consider treatment at all and neither would my father. My son is the only male decendant . Any reply you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Dear Diane,

Thank you for taking the time to prepare such a detailed response, outlining the specifics of your situation. I was sorry to read of your son's difficulties...things, such as these, are never easy to deal with--especially as parents. I hope my feedback gets you all headed in the right direction.

Certainly, a Delusional or Persecutory Disorder may exist. However, other possibilities must also be acknowledged. For example, Schizotypal and Schizoid Personality Disorders would also seem to be very reasonable possibilities, at least from what you describe. Schizophreniform and Schizoaffective Disorders also deserve consideration, along with Schizophrenia. You must also consider the possibility of substance abuse. Various psychoactive substances and drugs can cause many of the behaviors and symptoms you describe.

You ask whether things like this can run in families. The answer is yes. Whether or not such things are learned by modeling, passed on genetically, or a combination thereof, is unknown. At this point, it would seem prudent for you to have your son assessed by a professional as soon as possible. By delaying an assessment or diagnosis, there is always the possibility that your son's behavior will worsen or that he may decompensate more than he already has. Either way, a quality face-to-face interview, with a trained professional, needs to occur.

The behaviors you describe are not normal. I would also encourage you to research these other possibilities via the Internet, the library, or by speaking with a local professional. The better educated you are, the better you can help your son.

Again, I hope this reply is useful and that it gets you headed in the right direction.

Warmest regards,

Dr. Dave