Delusions Flashcards
Nihilistic delusions
Patients may believe that they are dead or that the world has ended
Usually similar to the pts mood
Delusions of grandeur/grandiose delusions
Patients believe they possess extraordinary traits or powers. Common in manic phases of bipolar disorder.
Delusions of control
The individual experiences a sensation that an external entity is controlling their thoughts or actions. Frequently observed in psychotic conditions.
Persecutory delusions
The patient believes they are being persecuted or conspired against. Common in conditions like paranoid schizophrenia.
Somatic delusions
Patients are convinced they have a physical, medical, or biological problem despite no medical evidence supporting their claim. These delusions can manifest as a wide range of physical symptoms.
Delusional perceptions
delusions arising from a real perception (e.g. bunch of flowers -> martians are about to land,) and can be self-referential.
Delusions of reference
Things that are mundane (words in a newspaper) actually mean a special message to the patient. NB: Some delusional perceptions may be delusions of reference, but not always - it depends if they are self-referential or not.
Capgras delusion
delusion that either oneself or another person has been replaced by an exact clone
Ekbom’s syndrome
delusional belief where a patient feels that they are infested with parasites. They often complain of feeling “crawling” in the skin.
It can appear as part of a psychotic illness or a secondary organic disease such as B12 deficiency, hypothyroidism and neurological disorders.
Cotard delusion
Belief that a patient is dead, non-existent or ‘rotting’
Othello syndrome
a strong delusional belief that their spouse or partner is unfaithful with little or any proof to back up their claim.
It is associated with alcohol abuse, psychosis and right frontal lobe damage.
Freigoli syndrome
when a patient is having persecutory beliefs and believes strangers are their persecutors in disguise
FOLIE A DEUX
Delusions shared by two or more people. One may have a psychotic illness, and the other is submissive
DE CLEREMBAULT’S SYNDROME
This is a delusion of being the object of love. Also referred to as ‘erotomania’.
When the pt thinks the Dr is in love with them
What is Flight of ideas
Refers to a rapid, often uncontrolled stream of thoughts that leap from one topic to another without a clear focus or direction
What is word salad
This is a severe form of formal thought disorder where the patient uses words in nonsensical or incoherent ways (e.g., ‘Purple monkey dishwasher? Thursday!’).
What is neologisms
Creating new words or phrases that only make sense to the pt
What is pressure of speech
Speaking louder and faster than before
Logoclonia
When the pt says the last syllable of a word or phrase continuously
What is monomania
Pathological preoccupation with a single subject or idea
What is echopraxia
When the pt copies exaclty what another persons movements are
What is tangential thinking
When the pt just goes off topic when talking and often loosely connected thoughts
What is Knights move thinking
Ideas are connected in weird ways that dont really make any sense
Clang associations
Using words that just sound similar or rhyme
What is derailment
Conversation moves randomly from one topic to another
Poverty of speech
When the pt just stops speaking
What is perseveration
Repetition of words or ideas when another person attempts to change the topic
What is thought blocking
patient suddenly halts in their thought process and cannot continue
