AIIMS Delhi NO-2016
Psychiatric Nursing
Easy
A patient complains that someone is making a conspiracy about me. Which type of delusion is it?
Appeared in: AIIMS Delhi NO-2016
Explanation
- The patient's belief of being a target of a 'conspiracy' is the central theme.
- This directly aligns with the definition of a delusion of persecution, which is a fixed, false belief that one is being plotted against, harmed, or harassed.
- It is the most common type of delusion seen in clinical practice, particularly in disorders like schizophrenia and delusional disorder.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: This delusion, also known as Othello syndrome, is specifically about a partner's supposed infidelity. The patient's complaint is about a general conspiracy, not a romantic partner's unfaithfulness.
- Option B: This is a false belief that oneself, a part of one's body, or the world does not exist or has been destroyed. The patient's statement indicates a belief about external forces acting against them, not a belief of non-existence.
- Option D: This involves an inflated sense of self-worth, power, knowledge, or identity. The patient's belief of being victimized is contrary to the exaggerated self-importance seen in grandiose delusions.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Identification of Delusion Types to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
- Accurately identifying the type of delusion is crucial for risk assessment. Patients with persecutory delusions may become aggressive towards their perceived persecutors out of fear, posing a safety risk.
- The nursing approach should never involve arguing about the delusion. Instead, focus on the underlying feelings (e.g., fear, anxiety) and build a therapeutic alliance to encourage treatment adherence.
- What if? If the patient had said, 'The news anchor is sending me secret messages through the TV,' the correct answer would be a delusion of reference, as the patient is interpreting neutral events as having personal significance.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the core theme of the patient's statement. The key phrase here is 'making a conspiracy about me.'
- Next, analyze what this theme implies. A 'conspiracy' suggests a belief of being plotted against, targeted, or persecuted by others.
- Then, review the definitions of the delusion types provided in the options.
- Match the identified theme to the correct definition. The belief of being conspired against is the hallmark of a delusion of persecution.
- Finally, rule out the other options by comparing their definitions to the patient's statement. The complaint is not about infidelity, non-existence, or grandiosity.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Identification of Delusion Types
- Stem keywords: patient complains, conspiracy, delusion
- Lead-in keywords: Which type
- Clinical cues: The patient's statement 'someone is making a conspiracy about me' is the key diagnostic clue, pointing directly to a specific type of thought disorder.
Question ID
QYgnpSQx1gUeD9kvbXgPLm
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. 3807-3809, 3803-3805
E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 1118-1120
Practise the full AIIMS Delhi NO-2016
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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