Persecutory delusion
Persecutory Delusion
Persecutory delusion (/pərˈsekjəˌtôrē dēˈlo͞oZHən/) is a type of delusion where the affected person strongly believes they are being conspired against, cheated, spied on, followed, poisoned or drugged, maliciously maligned, harassed, or obstructed in the pursuit of long-term goals. Small slights may be exaggerated and become the focus of a delusional system with a person suffering from this type of delusion.
Etymology
The term "persecutory delusion" is derived from the Latin word "persecutus," which means "to pursue" and the Latin word "deludere," which means "to deceive." The term was first used in the medical literature in the 19th century.
Related Terms
- Delusion: A false belief based on incorrect inference about external reality that is firmly held despite what almost everyone else believes and despite what constitutes incontrovertible and obvious proof or evidence to the contrary.
- Paranoia: A thought process believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of delusion and irrationality.
- Schizophrenia: A mental disorder characterized by abnormal behavior, strange speech, and a decreased ability to understand reality.
- Psychosis: An abnormal condition of the mind that results in difficulties determining what is real and what is not.
See Also
References
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
- Freeman, D., & Garety, P. A. (2004). Paranoia: The psychology of persecutory delusions. Hove, UK: Psychology Press.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Persecutory delusion
- Wikipedia's article - Persecutory delusion
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