delusions of persecution

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Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A type of delusion: A fixed, false belief (common in paranoia and some psychotic disorders) that one is being harassed, threatened, conspired against, or harmed by others. The imagined persecution often involves a complex, elaborate conspiracy.
Usage
  • This term is primarily used in clinical, psychological, and psychiatric contexts to describe a specific symptom.
  • It is a formal, uncountable noun phrase typically used with a singular verb, as it refers to a singular concept or condition.
  • It describes the state of having such beliefs.
Examples
  • Noun:
    • The patient's primary symptom was delusions of persecution, leading him to believe his neighbors were spying on him.
    • Delusions of persecution can be extremely distressing and isolating for the individual experiencing them.
    • The psychiatrist noted the presence of delusions of persecution in the diagnostic report.
Advanced Usage
  • "to suffer from delusions of persecution": to be afflicted by this condition.
    • The individual was diagnosed as suffering from severe delusions of persecution.
  • "to have delusions of persecution": to hold these false beliefs.
    • He has delusions of persecution and believes government agents are following him.
Variants and Related Words
  • Persecutory delusion (n): A more clinical synonym for "delusions of persecution."
    • Persecutory delusion is a common feature of paranoid schizophrenia.
  • Paranoia (n): A mental condition characterized by delusions of persecution, among other symptoms.
    • His paranoia manifested as intense delusions of persecution.
  • Delusional (adj): Relating to or characterized by delusions.
    • She was experiencing a delusional disorder centered on persecution.
Synonyms
  • Persecutory delusion: The direct clinical synonym.
  • Paranoid delusion: A closely related term, though it can encompass a broader range of suspicious beliefs.
Related Phrases
  • Delusions of grandeur: A contrasting type of delusion involving an inflated sense of self-importance, power, or identity.
    • The patient exhibited both delusions of grandeur and delusions of persecution.
  • Ideas of reference: A related symptom where a person believes neutral events have a special, personal meaning, often leading to persecutory interpretations.
Noun
  1. a delusion (common in paranoia) that others are out to get you and frustrate and embarrass you or inflict suffering on you; a complicated conspiracy is frequently imagined