ILLUSIONS AND

DELUSIONS

Delusions
Delusions

are deeply fixed beliefs. These

beliefs are maintained by an individual despite
contradictory information or evidence. In
extreme forms, delusions are symptoms of
psychosis. Delusional individuals cannot
clearly distinguish what is real from what is
not. Schizophrenics are particularly susceptible
to the development of delusions. Delusions are
also the hallmark of another psychiatric
disorder called delusional disorder.

 Delusions

are categorized as either bizarre or

non-bizarre. A bizarre delusion is a delusion
that is very strange and completely
implausible. For example, aliens have removed
all of a persons organs, or brain, and have
replaced them with someone elses. A nonbizarre delusion is where the content of the
belief is mistaken, but it is at least possible.
For example, it is possible for someone to be
under constant police surveillance.

 Delusions

are also categorized according to

their theme. Delusions of control, nihilistic
delusions, and thought broadcasting/
insertion/withdrawal are generally considered
bizarre delusions. Whereas, persecutory,
somatic, grandiose, religious, jealousy, and
mind being read delusions are considered nonbizarre.

Types of delusions
Persecutory

Delusions: This the most common

type of delusions which involves the belief of
being followed, harassed, cheated, poisoned
or drugged, conspired against, spied on,
tormented, attacked, etc. Delusions of
persecution are suggestive of the paranoid
type of schizophrenia.

Referential

Delusions : Another common

delusion in which the person believes that
certain gestures, comments, passages from
books, television, newspapers, song lyrics, or
cues are specifically directed at the individual.

 Somatic

Delusions: Somatic delusions involve

a preoccupation with the individuals body.
Most typically they consist of false beliefs that
they are suffering from a severe physical
condition, such as a tumor. The perceived
source of the disease is usually bizarre, such
as having a foreign substance in one's body, or
believing that his/her body is infested with
parasites.

 Grandiose

delusions are mistaken beliefs that

the individual is better than others. A
grandiose individual exaggerates his/her sense
of self-importance, and is usually convinced
that he/she has special
powers/talents/abilities. People with this type
of delusion may believe they are a popular
powerful political figure or a celebrity.

Illusions
Quite

simply an illusion is simply a misleading

perception. Illusions are essentially seeing
(most common), hearing, tasting, feeling, or
smelling something that is there, but
perceiving or interpreting it incorrectly.

practical example of an illusion: You hang

your spare uniform over the door jamb to air
out; you come home late; as you walk down
the hall you see a shadow and perceive it to
be an intruder; your pulse races; only to
discover your intruder is a hanger wearing
pants and a shirt. Another example of an
illusion is hearing one's name called when the
radio is playing. Illusions can happen to
anyone and everyone. They are not a sign of a
mental illness, unless they become constant