Persecutory delusion
Persecutory Delusions[edit | edit source]
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Persecutory delusions are a form of psychological disorder where individuals firmly believe they are being persecuted, despite a lack of objective evidence. These delusions are characterized by feelings of being targeted, harassed, or conspired against.
Definition and Characteristics[edit | edit source]
Persecutory delusions are defined by two core elements:
- The belief that harm is occurring or will occur
- The belief that a persecutor intends to cause harm
Epidemiology and Prevalence[edit | edit source]
A 2020 study by Sheridan et al. highlighted the prevalence of a common form of persecutory delusion — perceived stalking by groups. The study found a lifetime prevalence of 0.66% in adult women and 0.17% in adult men.
Causes and Risk Factors[edit | edit source]
Factors contributing to the development of persecutory delusions include:
- Psychological stress and trauma
- Paranoia and distrust
- Certain mental health conditions, like schizophrenia
- Substance abuse
Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]
Individuals with persecutory delusions often exhibit:
- Intense suspicion and mistrust
- Fear and anxiety
- Social withdrawal
- Difficulty functioning in daily life
Diagnosis and Assessment[edit | edit source]
Diagnosing persecutory delusions involves:
- Clinical evaluation by mental health professionals
- Psychological assessment to rule out other mental health disorders
- Consideration of the individual's history and current mental state
Treatment and Management[edit | edit source]
Treatment typically includes:
- Psychotherapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Antipsychotic medication in some cases
- Addressing underlying conditions or contributing factors
Challenges in Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment of persecutory delusions can be challenging due to:
- The patient's mistrust and reluctance to seek help
- Difficulty in changing firmly held beliefs
Impact on Quality of Life[edit | edit source]
Persecutory delusions can significantly impact an individual's quality of life, affecting relationships, work, and overall well-being.
Research and Future Directions[edit | edit source]
Ongoing research aims to better understand the underlying mechanisms of persecutory delusions and to develop more effective treatment strategies.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External Links[edit | edit source]
- American Psychiatric Association - What is Schizophrenia
- National Institute of Mental Health - Schizophrenia
| Persecutory delusion Resources | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| |
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Contributors: Kondreddy Naveen
