A false belief based on an incorrect inference about external reality, firmly sustained despite clear evidence to the contrary. The belief is not part of a cultural tradition such as an article of religious faith. Among the more frequently reported delusions are the following: a)Delusional Jealousy: The false belief that one’s sexual partner is unfaithful; also called the Othello delusion. b) Delusional Parasitosis: A strong delusional belief that one is infested with parasites, whereas in reality no such parasites are present. c) Delusion of Control: The belief that one’s feelings, impulses, thoughts, or actions are not one’s own but have been imposed by some external force. d) Delusion of Poverty: The conviction that one is, or will be, bereft of all material possessions. e) Delusion of Reference: The conviction that events, objects, or other people in the immediate environment have a particular and unusual significance (usually negative). f) Grandiose Delusion: An exaggerated belief of one’s importance, power, knowledge, or identity. g) Nihilistic Delusion: A conviction of nonexistence of the self, part of the self, others, or the world. “I no longer have a brain” is an example. h) Persecutory Delusion: The conviction that one (or a group or institution close to one) is being harassed, attacked, persecuted, or conspired against. i) somatic delusion: A false belief involving the functioning of, or some other aspect of, one’s body, such as the conviction of a postmenopausal woman that she is pregnant, or a person’s conviction that he has snakes in his colon. j) Systematized Delusion: A single false belief with multiple elaborations or a group of false beliefs that the person relates to a single event or theme. This event is believed to have caused every problem in life that the person experiences.
A strong, unshakable belief that has no basis in reality. There are three types of (a) grandeur, (b) reference, and (c) persecution.
A false belief which a person holds which cannot be changed by reason.
A false belief, firmly held though contradicted by physical reality or common sense, as when a child believes a control box has been implanted in his or her head, or a 70-pound anorexic girl insists she is obese.
False belief; a continuing irrational idea that cannot be changed by logical argument. Delusions common in mental illness include delusion of grandeur, of persecution by others, and of affliction with disease.
A fixed false belief that is sustained even when provided evidence to the contrary; due to psychosis or delirium.
A persistent, unshakable, and false belief that is held despite obvious evidence to the contrary. Delusions can take many forms: persecution (that others are plotting against the individual); grandeur (that a person is a well-known figure); or jealousy (that one’s lover or spouse is unfaithful).
An irrationally held belief that cannot be altered by rational argument. In mental illness it is often a false belief that the individual is persecuted by others, is very powerful, is controlled by others, or is a victim of physical disease. It may be a symptom of schizophrenia, manic-depressive psychosis, or an organic psychosis.
An irrational and usually unshakeable belief peculiar to some individuals. They fail to respond to reasonable argument and the delusion is often paranoid in character with a belief that a person or persons is/are persecuting them. The existence of a delusion, of such a nature as to seriously influence conduct, is one of the most important signs in reaching a decision to arrange for the compulsory admission of the patient to hospital for observation.
A false belief brought about without appropriate external stimulation and inconsistent with the individual’s own knowledge and experience. It is seen most often in psychoses, in which patients may not be able to distinguish their own unverified thoughts, fears, or feelings from reality. It differs from hallucination in that the latter involves the false excitation of one or more senses. The most serious delusions are those that cause patients to harm others or themselves (e.g., fear of being poisoned may cause the patient to refuse food). Delusions may lead to suicide or self-injury. False beliefs include being persecuted or being guilty of an unpardonable sin.
A fixed and enduring false belief that persists despite substantial contradictory evidence.
A rigid and irrational notion, isolated from consensus and resistant to logical persuasion, characterizes a paranoid delusion. The core concept within such delusions revolves around persecution or jealousy. For instance, an individual may erroneously hold the belief that they are being subjected to poisoning or that their partner is consistently unfaithful.
Enduring delusions serve as a significant marker of severe mental disorders, specifically schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
A delusional belief commonly found in the final stages of untreated brain syphilis and other mental disorders, where the individual imagines themselves possessing exaggerated qualities of greatness and wealth.