KPSC Staff Nurse - 2018
Mental Health Nursing
Easy
Among the following which one is a delusional disorder?
Appeared in: KPSC Staff Nurse - 2018
Explanation
- Capgras' syndrome is classified as a delusional disorder, specifically a delusional misidentification syndrome.
- The core feature is a persistent, irrational belief that a familiar person has been replaced by an identical-looking impostor.
- Unlike dissociative disorders, the primary disturbance in Capgras' syndrome is in thought content (a delusion), not in consciousness, memory, or identity.
- The belief is fixed and not amenable to reason, which is the hallmark of a delusion.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: Trance is a dissociative state characterized by altered consciousness and reduced responsiveness to environmental stimuli. It is not a delusional disorder.
- Option C: Dissociative fugue is a dissociative disorder involving sudden, unexpected travel away from one's home or customary place of work, with an inability to recall one's past. The primary issue is amnesia and identity confusion, not a fixed false belief.
- Option D: Ganser's syndrome is considered a dissociative disorder where the individual gives approximate or nonsensical answers to simple questions. It is often seen in prisoners and is not a primary delusional disorder.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification of Delusional and Dissociative Disorders as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- Nurses must assess for the risk of violence, as patients with Capgras' syndrome may act aggressively towards the perceived 'impostor'.
- Therapeutic communication is key. Do not argue with or challenge the delusion directly, as this can increase agitation and damage the therapeutic relationship. Instead, focus on the feelings associated with the belief.
- Patient and family education is crucial for safety planning at home and understanding the nature of the illness.
How to Approach the Question
- First, understand the core definition of a 'delusional disorder'. It is a mental illness centered around one or more delusions (fixed, false beliefs) without the other prominent symptoms of schizophrenia.
- Next, analyze each option to identify its primary characteristic.
- Evaluate 'Trance': This is an altered state of consciousness, a feature of dissociation.
- Evaluate 'Capgras' syndrome': This is a fixed, false belief about a person being an impostor. This fits the definition of a delusion.
- Evaluate 'Dissociative fugue': This involves memory loss (amnesia) and travel, which are core features of dissociation.
- Evaluate 'Ganser's syndrome': This involves giving 'approximate answers', a symptom linked to dissociative states.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Classification of Delusional and Dissociative Disorders
- Stem keywords: delusional disorder
- Lead-in keywords: which one is
- Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
Qh0lNQAFFhVV065IGqE2e5
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, 5271-5273, 3841-3843
Practise the full KPSC Staff Nurse - 2018
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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