Delusional love disorder is a condition in which individuals believe that their feelings of love are reciprocated, despite evidence to the contrary. Recently, a 20-year-old Chinese university student named Liu was diagnosed with this disorder after believing that all the girls in his school liked him, exhibiting inappropriate behavior as a result. This disorder is characterized by unrealistic beliefs and fantasies, often leading to unshakable convictions and potentially harmful actions like stalking.
Symptoms of delusional love disorder include persistent belief in reciprocated love even in the face of rejection, inappropriate behavior such as stalking, and erratic mood disturbances. Factors contributing to the development of this disorder include psychological experiences of rejection or trauma, biological factors like brain chemistry imbalance, and social influences shaping idealized relationship perceptions.
Delusional love disorder is related but distinct from erotomania, which involves delusions about the social status or identity of the person believed to be in love. Treatment typically involves therapy to address thought patterns, along with medication such as antipsychotics to manage mood swings and delusions. The consequences of delusional love disorder can have significant negative impacts on social life, relationships, legal issues, work performance, reputation, and emotional well-being.