Saturday, 21 July 2012

Delusion of persecution


Medicolegal Update
 (Dr Sudhir Gupta, Additional Prof, Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, AIIMS)
Delusion of persecution
  • Delusion of persecution is an unpleasant delusion.
  • The person is suspicious and apprehensive and leads a life of distress and pain. The sufferer believes that something bad is going to happen to him. He/she fears that he may be killed by somebody or his property may be robbed.
  • Such a person may feel himself so helpless that he may even commit suicide or may kill his own family members to "save" them from some imaginary danger. He may even kill some innocent person thinking him to be his enemy who is "out to destroy him, his family and his property."
  • In an insane person, delusion of grandeur may change to delusions of persecution. A man who wrongly believes that he possesses huge property, may at a time start to think wrongly that another person is out to kill him to inherit his property.

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