beliefs are maintained by an individual despite contradictory information or evidence. In extreme forms, delusions are symptoms of psychosis. Delusional individuals cannot clearly distinguish what is real from what is not. Schizophrenics are particularly susceptible to the development of delusions. Delusions are also the hallmark of another psychiatric disorder called delusional disorder.
Delusions
are categorized as either bizarre or
non-bizarre. A bizarre delusion is a delusion that is very strange and completely implausible. For example, aliens have removed all of a persons organs, or brain, and have replaced them with someone elses. A nonbizarre delusion is where the content of the belief is mistaken, but it is at least possible. For example, it is possible for someone to be under constant police surveillance.
Delusions
are also categorized according to
their theme. Delusions of control, nihilistic delusions, and thought broadcasting/ insertion/withdrawal are generally considered bizarre delusions. Whereas, persecutory, somatic, grandiose, religious, jealousy, and mind being read delusions are considered nonbizarre.
Types of delusions Persecutory
Delusions: This the most common
type of delusions which involves the belief of being followed, harassed, cheated, poisoned or drugged, conspired against, spied on, tormented, attacked, etc. Delusions of persecution are suggestive of the paranoid type of schizophrenia.
Referential
Delusions : Another common
delusion in which the person believes that certain gestures, comments, passages from books, television, newspapers, song lyrics, or cues are specifically directed at the individual.
Somatic
Delusions: Somatic delusions involve
a preoccupation with the individuals body. Most typically they consist of false beliefs that they are suffering from a severe physical condition, such as a tumor. The perceived source of the disease is usually bizarre, such as having a foreign substance in one's body, or believing that his/her body is infested with parasites.
Grandiose
delusions are mistaken beliefs that
the individual is better than others. A grandiose individual exaggerates his/her sense of self-importance, and is usually convinced that he/she has special powers/talents/abilities. People with this type of delusion may believe they are a popular powerful political figure or a celebrity.
Illusions Quite
simply an illusion is simply a misleading
perception. Illusions are essentially seeing (most common), hearing, tasting, feeling, or smelling something that is there, but perceiving or interpreting it incorrectly.
practical example of an illusion: You hang
your spare uniform over the door jamb to air out; you come home late; as you walk down the hall you see a shadow and perceive it to be an intruder; your pulse races; only to discover your intruder is a hanger wearing pants and a shirt. Another example of an illusion is hearing one's name called when the radio is playing. Illusions can happen to anyone and everyone. They are not a sign of a mental illness, unless they become constant