Paranoid and Delusional Disorders

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to paranoid and delusional disorders as outlined in the lecture notes.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

A pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others, interpreting their motives as malevolent, beginning in early adulthood.

Delusional Disorder

A mental disorder characterized by the presence of one or more delusions lasting for at least one month.

Criterion A for schizophrenia

A set of symptoms that must be met for a diagnosis of schizophrenia, which has never been met in delusional disorder.

Erotomanic type

A type of delusional disorder where the individual believes another person is in love with them.

Grandiose type

A delusional disorder characterized by the belief in having some great talent, insight, or having made an important discovery.

Jealous type

A type of delusional disorder where the individual believes their spouse or partner is unfaithful.

Persecutory type

A delusional disorder theme where the individual believes they are being conspired against or harmed.

Somatic type

A delusional disorder where the individual has delusions involving bodily functions or sensations.

Hostile attributional bias

An inclination to view others' behaviors as arising from hostility towards oneself.

Querulous paranoia

A form of paranoia characterized by preoccupation with gaining redress and often involves obsessive grievance.

Bizarreness

An attribute of delusions that historically indicates schizophrenia, suggesting a disconnect from reality.

Conviction (in delusions)

The quality of being firmly sustained in a delusional belief, often inflexible and incorrigible.

Insight (in delusions)

The degree of awareness that one's beliefs may be wrong, differentiating persisting delusions from nonpsychotic disorders.

Delusion

A false belief held with strong conviction despite clear evidence to the contrary.

Emotional significance (in delusions)

Delusions often reflect an individual's intense preoccupation with their social position or personal goals.

Falsity (in delusions)

A critical component in diagnosing delusions, denoting beliefs that defy the evidence at hand.

Preoccupation (in delusions)

The extent to which ideation consumes an individual's mental life, described as obsessive and intrusive.

Delusional themes

Common categories of delusions including erotomanic, jealous, persecutory, and somatic.