A client expresses the belief that armed forces are out to kill him. This is an example of:

Appeared in: HP CHO -9 October 2022

Explanation

Delusion of persecution is a fixed, false belief that one is being harmed, harassed, or plotted against.
The client's belief that armed forces are out to kill him matches the classic definition of persecutory delusion.
Persecutory delusions are common in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.
The key differentiator is the unshakeable conviction of being targeted or threatened by others, not based in reality.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: Hallucinations are false sensory perceptions, not fixed false beliefs about being harmed.
Option B: Delusion of infidelity involves false beliefs about a partner's unfaithfulness, not persecution.
Option C: Derealization is a dissociative symptom where the environment feels unreal, not a persecutory belief.

Related Visual

Comparison of psychiatric symptoms: delusion of persecution, delusion of infidelity, hallucination, derealization, with definitions and key features.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Recognition and classification of psychiatric symptoms: delusions vs. hallucinations vs. dissociative symptoms as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Recognizing persecutory delusions is critical for patient safety and appropriate intervention.
Clients with persecutory delusions may act defensively or aggressively if they feel threatened.
What if? If the client reported hearing voices instead, the focus would shift to managing hallucinations and suicide risk.

How to Approach the Question

Read the stem carefully to identify the main symptom or belief.
Distinguish between sensory experiences (hallucinations) and fixed beliefs (delusions).
Match the belief content to the correct type of delusion or symptom.
Eliminate options that do not fit the described symptom.
Use clinical keywords to guide your answer selection.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Recognition and classification of psychiatric symptoms: delusions vs. hallucinations vs. dissociative symptoms
Stem keywords: client belief, armed forces, out to kill, psychiatric symptom
Lead-in keywords: example of
Clinical cues: Belief of being targeted by armed forces indicates persecutory theme

Question ID

Q5_pshzCO1M_9caqUSHXOa

Reference Book

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 3802-3804, 4723-4725, 3807-3809

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