Themes In addition to these categories, delusions often manifest according to a consistent theme. Although delusions can have any theme, certain themes are more common. Some of the more common delusion themes are: Delusion of control: False belief that another person, group of people, or external force controls one's general thoughts, feelings, impulses, or behaviors. Delusional jealousy: False belief that a spouse or lover is having an affair, with no proof to back up the claim. Delusion of guilt or sin (or delusion of self-accusation): Ungrounded feeling of remorse or guilt of delusional intensity. Thought broadcasting: False belief that other people can know one's thoughts. Delusion of thought insertion: Belief that another thinks through the mind of the person. Persecutory delusions: False belief that one is being persecuted. Delusion of reference: False belief that insignificant remarks, events, or objects in one's environment have personal meaning or significance. "Usually the meaning assigned to these events is negative, but the 'messages' can also have a grandiose quality." Erotomania: False belief that another person is in love with them. Religious delusion: Belief that the affected person is a god or chosen to act as a god. Somatic delusion: Delusion whose content pertains to bodily functioning, bodily sensations or physical appearance. Usually the false belief is that the body is somehow diseased, abnormal or changed. A specific example of this delusion is delusional parasitosis: Delusion in which one feels infested with insects, bacteria, mites, spiders, lice, fleas, worms, or other organisms. Delusion of poverty: Person strongly believes they are financially incapacitated. Although this type of delusion is less common now, it was particularly widespread in the days preceding state support.Barker, p.. 1997. Assessment in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing in Search of the Whole Person. UK: Nelson Thornes Ltd. p. 241.
Themes In addition to these categories delusions often manifest according to a consistent theme. Although delusions can have any theme, certain themes are more common. Some of the more common delusion themes are: Delusion of control: False belief that another person, group of people, or external force controls one's general thoughts, feelings, impulses, or behaviors. Delusional jealousy: False belief that a spouse or lover is having an affair, with no proof to back up the claim. Delusion of guilt or sin (or delusion of self-accusation): Ungrounded feeling of remorse or guilt of delusional intensity. Thought broadcasting: False belief that other people can know one's thoughts. Delusion of thought insertion: Belief that another thinks through the mind of the person. Persecutory delusions: False belief that one is being persecuted. Delusion of reference: False belief that insignificant remarks, events, or objects in one's environment have personal meaning or significance. "Usually the meaning assigned to these events is negative, but the 'messages' can also have a grandiose quality." Erotomania: False belief that another person is in love with them. Religious delusion: Belief that the affected person is a god or chosen to act as a god. Somatic delusion: Delusion whose content pertains to bodily functioning, bodily sensations or physical appearance. Usually the false belief is that the body is somehow diseased, abnormal or changed. A specific example of this delusio,n is delusional parasitosis: Delusion in which one feels infested with insects, bacteria, mites, spiders, lice, fleas, worms, or other organisms. Delusion of poverty: Person strongly believes they are financially incapacitated. Although this type of delusion is less common now, it was particularly widespread in the days preceding state support.Barker, p.. 1997. Assessment in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing in Search of the Whole Person. UK: Nelson Thornes Ltd. p. 241.