Which statement defines a delusion?

Which statement defines a delusion?

• A. A fixed false belief not supported by reality or cultural background, unshakeable despite contrary evidence.
• B. A misperception of a real external stimulus.
• C. A sensation without external stimulus.
• D. A fleeting worry.

Answer: (A)

Delusions are fixed, false beliefs held with strong conviction, that do not fit the person’s reality or cultural background and remain unshakeable despite clear evidence to the contrary. This unwavering conviction is what sets a delusion apart from other experiences. For example, a misperception of a real external stimulus would be an illusion, not a delusion; a sensation without any external stimulus is a hallucination; and a brief worry is simply a transient anxiety, not a belief held as factual reality.

Delusions are fixed, false beliefs held with strong conviction, that do not fit the person’s reality or cultural background and remain unshakeable despite clear evidence to the contrary. This unwavering conviction is what sets a delusion apart from other experiences. For example, a misperception of a real external stimulus would be an illusion, not a delusion; a sensation without any external stimulus is a hallucination; and a brief worry is simply a transient anxiety, not a belief held as factual reality.