Delusion

delusion /de·lu·sion/ (de-loo´zhun) an idiosyncratic false belief that is firmly maintained in spite of incontrovertible and obvious proof or evidence to the contrary.delu´sional

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bizarre delusion  one that is patently absurd, with no possible basis in fact.

delusion of control  the delusion that one's thoughts, feelings, and actions are not one's own but are being imposed by someone else or other external force.

depressive delusion  one that is congruent with a predominant depressed mood.

erotomanic delusion  one associated with erotomania.

delusion of grandeur , grandiose delusion delusional conviction of one's own importance, power, or knowledge or that one is, or has a special relationship with, a deity or a famous person.

delusion of jealousy  a delusional belief that one's spouse or lover is unfaithful, based on erroneous inferences drawn from innocent events imagined to be evidence.

mixed delusion  one in which no central theme predominates.

delusion of negation , nihilistic delusion a depressive delusion that the self or part of the self, part of the body, other persons, or the whole world has ceased to exist.

delusion of persecution  a delusion that one is being attacked, harassed, persecuted, cheated, or conspired against.

delusion of reference  a delusional conviction that ordinary events, objects, or behaviors of others have particular and unusual meanings specifically for oneself.

systematized delusions  a group of delusions organized around a common theme.

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de·lu·sion (d-lzhn)

n.

A false belief strongly held in spite of invalidating evidence, especially as a symptom of mental illness.

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de·lusion·al adj.

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Delusion

A false belief that is resistant to reason or contrary to actual fact. Common delusions include delusions of persecution, delusions about one s importance (sometimes called delusions of grandeur), or delusions of being controlled by others. In BDD, the delusion is related to the patient's perception of his or her body.

Mentioned in: Antidepressants, Tricyclic, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Mental Status Examination, Schizophrenia

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delusion,

n a persistent, aberrant belief or perception held inviolable by a person despite evidence to the contrary.