Psychiatric Medications Q 46
Tim is admitted with a diagnosis of delusions of grandeur. The nurse is aware that this diagnosis reflects a belief that one is:
A. Highly important or famous.
B. Being persecuted.
C. Connected to events unrelated to oneself.
D. Responsible for the evil in the world.
Correct Answer: A. Highly important or famous.
A delusion of grandeur is a false belief that one is highly important or famous. A delusion of grandeur is the false belief in one’s own superiority, greatness, or intelligence. People experiencing delusions of grandeur do not just have high self-esteem; instead, they believe in their own greatness and importance even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Option B: A delusion of persecution is a false belief that one is being persecuted. Persecutory delusions occur when someone believes others are out to harm them despite evidence to the contrary. It’s a type of paranoid thinking that can be part of several different mental illnesses. Whether people with this condition think coworkers are sabotaging their work or they believe the government is trying to kill them, persecutory delusions vary in severity. Some individuals with persecutory delusions believe they have to go to great lengths to stay safe—and consequently, they may struggle to function normally.
Option C: An idea of reference—sometimes called a delusion of reference—is the false belief that irrelevant occurrences or details in the world relate directly to oneself. Ideas of reference are variations on this behavior, and occur when a person believes something is referring to them when it is not. For example, a person shopping in a store might see two strangers laughing and believe that they are laughing at him or her when in reality the other two people do not even notice the person. Some mental health professionals believe this thought error is a type of cognitive bias.
Option D: A delusion of reference is a false belief that one is connected to events unrelated to oneself or a belief that one is responsible for the evil in the world. A delusion of reference is a more strongly-held idea of reference. While a person experiencing an idea of reference will change his or her mind when the evidence dictates he/she must, a person experiencing a delusion will believe something refers back to him or her even in the face of strong evidence to the contrary.