Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs US Medical PG Practice Questions and MCQs
Practice US Medical PG questions for Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs. These multiple choice questions (MCQs) cover important concepts and help you prepare for your exams.
Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs US Medical PG Question 1: A 35-year-old woman is brought to the inpatient psychiatric unit by the police after she was found violating the conditions of her restraining order by parking on the side street of her "lover’s" home every night for the past week. Her "lover", a famous hometown celebrity, has adamantly denied any relationship with the patient over the past 6 months. The patient insists that ever since he signed a copy of his album at a local signing, she knew they were in love. Despite him having his own wife and children, the patient insists that he is in love with her and goes to his house to meet in secret. Physical examination of the patient is unremarkable. Urine toxicology is negative. Which of the following statements best describes this patient’s condition?
- A. The patient will have concurrent psychotic disorders.
- B. The disorder must meet 2 out of the 5 core criteria.
- C. Symptoms must be present for at least 4 weeks. (Correct Answer)
- D. This disorder has a high prevalence rate.
- E. Patients may have a contributing medical condition.
Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs Explanation: ***Symptoms must be present for at least 4 weeks.***
- This patient presents with symptoms highly suggestive of **delusional disorder, erotomanic type**, where the primary delusion is that another person, usually of higher status, is in love with them. For a diagnosis of delusional disorder, the DSM-5 criteria state that the presence of one or more delusions must persist for **at least 1 month**.
- The patient's unwavering belief in a secret relationship with a celebrity, despite clear evidence to the contrary and the celebrity's denial, aligns with the characteristics of a **fixed, nonbizarre delusion**, which is the hallmark of delusional disorder.
*The patient will have concurrent psychotic disorders.*
- In **delusional disorder**, by definition, the patient typically does **not experience other psychotic symptoms** like prominent hallucinations, disorganized speech, or grossly disorganized/catatonic behavior.
- If other psychotic symptoms are prominent, the diagnosis would likely shift to **schizophrenia** or **schizoaffective disorder**, not delusional disorder.
*The disorder must meet 2 out of the 5 core criteria.*
- This statement refers to the diagnostic criteria for **schizophrenia**, which requires two or more of the five core symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized/catatonic behavior, negative symptoms).
- Delusional disorder is characterized primarily by the presence of **nonbizarre delusions** without meeting the full criteria for schizophrenia.
*This disorder has a high prevalence rate.*
- **Delusional disorder** is relatively **uncommon**, with an estimated lifetime prevalence of about 0.2%.
- It is one of the **less common psychotic disorders**, especially when compared to schizophrenia or mood disorders with psychotic features.
*Patients may have a contributing medical condition.*
- While medical conditions can sometimes cause psychotic symptoms (e.g., **substance-induced psychosis** or psychosis due to another medical condition), this is typically excluded in the diagnosis of **primary delusional disorder**.
- The patient's urine toxicology is negative, and her physical examination is unremarkable, suggesting that her symptoms are not due to a medical condition or substance use.
Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs US Medical PG Question 2: A 29-year-old woman is brought to the physician by her father because of a change in her behavior over the past 8 months. The father says that his daughter has become increasingly withdrawn; she has not answered any phone calls or visited her family and friends. The patient says that she has to stay at home because a foreign intelligence service is monitoring her. She thinks that they are using a magnetic field to read her mind. Mental status exam shows disjointed and perseverative thinking. She is anxious and has a flat affect. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
- A. Delusional disorder
- B. Schizophrenia (Correct Answer)
- C. Paranoid personality disorder
- D. Schizophreniform disorder
- E. Schizoid personality disorder
Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs Explanation: ***Schizophrenia***
- The patient's presentation with **delusions of persecution and thought broadcasting**, accompanied by **disjointed, perseverative thinking**, and **flat affect** for 8 months, is highly indicative of schizophrenia.
- Schizophrenia is characterized by a combination of positive symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech), negative symptoms (flat affect, social withdrawal), and cognitive symptoms (disorganized thinking) lasting for at least 6 months.
*Delusional disorder*
- Delusional disorder is characterized by the presence of **non-bizarre delusions for at least 1 month** without other significant psychotic symptoms or marked impairment in functioning.
- The patient's symptoms include **disorganized thinking and flat affect**, which are not typical of delusional disorder and suggest a broader psychotic illness.
*Paranoid personality disorder*
- Characterized by a pervasive distrust and suspicion of others, where their motives are interpreted as malevolent, but **without the presence of frank delusions or other psychotic symptoms**.
- The patient is experiencing **fixed, false beliefs (delusions)** involving mind reading and foreign intelligence, which goes beyond the pervasive distrust seen in paranoid personality disorder.
*Schizophreniform disorder*
- Schizophreniform disorder presents with symptoms identical to schizophrenia, but the **duration is between 1 and 6 months**.
- Since the patient's symptoms have been present for **8 months**, it exceeds the diagnostic criteria for schizophreniform disorder, making schizophrenia a more likely diagnosis.
*Schizoid personality disorder*
- Characterized by a pervasive pattern of **detachment from social relationships** and a restricted range of expression of emotions in interpersonal settings.
- While the patient exhibits social withdrawal, this condition does **not involve delusions, disorganized thinking, or other psychotic features**.
Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs US Medical PG Question 3: A 26-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by his wife because of bizarre and agitated behavior for the last 6 weeks. He thinks that the NSA is spying on him and controlling his mind. His wife reports that the patient has become withdrawn and at times depressed for the past 3 months. He lost his job because he stopped going to work 4 weeks ago. Since then, he has been working on an invention that will block people from being able to control his mind. Physical and neurologic examinations show no abnormalities. On mental status examination, he is confused and suspicious with marked psychomotor agitation. His speech is disorganized and his affect is labile. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
- A. Brief psychotic disorder
- B. Schizophreniform disorder (Correct Answer)
- C. Schizotypal personality disorder
- D. Schizophrenia
- E. Delusional disorder
Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs Explanation: ***Schizophreniform disorder***
- The patient's symptoms, including **delusions** (fixed false beliefs that the NSA is spying and controlling his mind), **disorganized speech**, and **agitated behavior**, are consistent with a psychotic disorder.
- The duration of active psychotic symptoms (6 weeks), which is more than 1 month but less than 6 months, fits the diagnostic criteria for **schizophreniform disorder**.
- The prodromal phase (withdrawn and depressed for 3 months) plus the active phase does not yet meet the 6-month requirement for schizophrenia.
*Brief psychotic disorder*
- This disorder is characterized by a sudden onset of psychotic symptoms lasting less than 1 month, followed by a full return to premorbid functioning.
- The patient's active psychotic symptoms have persisted for 6 weeks, exceeding the maximum duration for brief psychotic disorder.
*Schizotypal personality disorder*
- This disorder primarily involves a pervasive pattern of social and interpersonal deficits marked by acute discomfort with close relationships, as well as cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentricities.
- While there might be odd beliefs or magical thinking, it does not typically involve the persistent and severe delusions and disorganized speech seen in this case.
- This is a personality disorder, not a psychotic disorder.
*Schizophrenia*
- Schizophrenia requires continuous signs of disturbance for at least 6 months, which includes at least 1 month of active-phase symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech).
- The patient's total duration of illness (3 months of prodromal symptoms plus 6 weeks of active symptoms) totals approximately 4.5 months, which is less than the 6-month minimum duration required for a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
*Delusional disorder*
- The primary feature of delusional disorder is the presence of one or more delusions for at least 1 month, without other prominent psychotic symptoms such as disorganized speech or behavior.
- This patient exhibits prominent **disorganized speech**, **labile affect**, and **disorganized behavior** (bizarre invention work), which are not characteristic of delusional disorder.
- Functioning is more impaired than typically seen in delusional disorder.
Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs US Medical PG Question 4: Two dizygotic twins present to the university clinic because they believe they are being poisoned through the school's cafeteria food. They have brought these concerns up in the past, but no other students or cafeteria staff support this belief. Both of them are average students with strong and weak subject areas as demonstrated by their course grade-books. They have no known medical conditions and are not known to abuse illicit substances. Which statement best describes the condition these patients have?
- A. A trial separation is likely to worsen symptoms.
- B. The disorder is its own disease entity in DSM-5.
- C. Antipsychotic medications are rarely beneficial.
- D. Can affect two or more closely related individuals. (Correct Answer)
- E. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a good first-line.
Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs Explanation: ***Can affect two or more closely related individuals.***
- The shared delusional belief in **folie à deux**, also known as **shared psychotic disorder**, typically occurs in two or more people who are closely associated.
- In this case, the **dizygotic twins** sharing the same delusional belief about being poisoned from cafeteria food fits this pattern.
*A trial separation is likely to worsen symptoms.*
- **Separating the individuals** involved in **folie à deux** is often a crucial step in treatment, as it can help break the cycle of shared delusion and allow for individual therapy.
- Separation typically IMPROVES rather than worsens symptoms by removing the reinforcement of the shared delusion.
*The disorder is its own disease entity in DSM-5.*
- In the **DSM-5**, **folie à deux** is no longer considered a separate diagnostic category.
- Instead, it is classified under **Other Specified Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorder** or **Unspecified Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorder**, with the specific context of shared delusion noted.
*Antipsychotic medications are rarely beneficial.*
- **Antipsychotics** are actually commonly used in treating folie à deux, particularly for the **primary individual** who initially developed the delusion.
- They can be an important component of treatment, often combined with separation and psychotherapy.
*Cognitive behavioral therapy is a good first-line.*
- **Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)** can be beneficial, particularly after separation, to help individuals challenge and reframe their delusional beliefs.
- However, the **first-line intervention** for shared psychotic disorder is **separation of the involved individuals**, followed by individual therapy (which may include CBT) and medication as needed.
Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs US Medical PG Question 5: A 22-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by his father because he is having bizarre thoughts. The patient says that he is being haunted by aliens from outer space. The father is worried as his son has had these symptoms for the past 7 months and lately, it seems to be getting worse. He has become more self-obsessed and does not seem to have any interest in his favorite activities. He has no plans to harm himself or others but spends a lot of time and energy building ‘defenses’ in and around his room as he is absolutely sure that aliens will come to get him soon. His blood pressure is 121/79 mm Hg, pulse 86/min, respiratory rate 15/min, temperature 36.8°C (98.2°F). Which of the following is correct regarding the patient’s symptoms?
- A. It would benefit from psychosurgery.
- B. He has a fixed false belief. (Correct Answer)
- C. It is best treated with cognitive behavioral therapy alone.
- D. It is a negative symptom.
- E. It falls under the disorganized thinking domain.
Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs Explanation: ***He has a fixed false belief.***
- The patient's conviction that he is being haunted by aliens, despite evidence to the contrary and the distress it causes, constitutes a **delusion**.
- A delusion is by definition a **fixed, false belief** that is not in keeping with the individual's cultural background.
*It would benefit from psychosurgery.*
- Psychosurgery, such as lobotomy, is an extreme and rarely used intervention for **severe, refractory mental disorders**, typically only after all other treatments have failed and with significant ethical considerations.
- While the patient's symptoms are impairing, **first-line treatments** for psychotic disorders involve antipsychotic medications and psychotherapy, not psychosurgery.
*It is best treated with cognitive behavioral therapy alone.*
- While CBT for psychosis (CBTp) can be a useful **adjunct** in managing delusions and reducing distress, it is **not sufficient as monotherapy** for active, severe psychotic symptoms.
- The primary intervention for profound delusions like those described is **antipsychotic medication**, with CBT added as an adjunctive treatment to help improve functioning and coping.
- CBT alone would be inadequate for someone with such fixed, impairing delusions actively building defenses against perceived threats.
*It is a negative symptom.*
- Negative symptoms of psychosis include features like **anhedonia** (lack of pleasure), **alogia** (poverty of speech), **avolition** (lack of motivation), and affective flattening.
- The patient's bizarre belief in aliens is a **positive symptom** as it represents an *addition* to normal experience, rather than a *reduction* or *absence* of normal functions.
- Note: The patient's decreased interest in activities suggests negative symptoms are also present, but the question asks about "the patient's symptoms" in context of the delusion described.
*It falls under the disorganized thinking domain.*
- Disorganized thinking or speech involves patterns like **loose associations, tangentiality, incoherence**, or word salad, where the logical connections between thoughts are lost.
- While the content of the patient's thoughts is bizarre, the core issue described is the *belief itself* (a delusion, which is a **positive symptom**), rather than disordered *thought processes* or the way he expresses them.
Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs US Medical PG Question 6: A 35-year-old computer programmer presents to the psychiatrist at the request of his mother for his oddities. He explains that he wears an aluminum foil cap while he works because he does not want extraterrestrial life to steal his thoughts. He spends his free time building a radio transmitter to contact distant planets. He denies any delusions or hallucinations. He claims that nothing is wrong with his eccentricities and is happy the way his life is. Which of the following personality disorders does this male most likely have?
- A. Schizotypal (Correct Answer)
- B. Schizoid
- C. Narcissistic
- D. Borderline
- E. Paranoid
Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs Explanation: ***Schizotypal***
- This patient exhibits **eccentric behavior**, **odd beliefs** (aliens stealing thoughts), and **magical thinking** (radio transmitter for distant planets) without reaching the level of frank delusions or hallucinations.
- The patient's lack of concern about his "eccentricities" and satisfaction with his life are consistent with the **ego-syntonic nature** often seen in personality disorders.
*Schizoid*
- Characterized by a **detachment from social relationships** and a restricted range of emotional expression, often preferring solitary activities.
- While they may display some oddities, their primary feature is a **lack of interest in social interaction**, which is not the prominent feature described here.
*Narcissistic*
- Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder display a **pervasive pattern of grandiosity**, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy.
- Their behaviors are typically driven by a need for **external validation** and a sense of superiority, which are absent in this case.
*Borderline*
- Marked by **instability in interpersonal relationships**, self-image, affects, and impulsivity; traits like fear of abandonment, unstable identity, and self-harm are common.
- The patient's presentation does not align with the **emotional dysregulation and interpersonal chaos** characteristic of borderline personality disorder.
*Paranoid*
- Characterized by a **pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others**, interpreting their motives as malevolent.
- While the patient has unusual beliefs, his primary concern is about alien intervention, not **suspicion of human intentions** or behaviors.
Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs US Medical PG Question 7: A 24-year-old woman presents with her husband to a physician with the complaints of fever, cough, and cold for the past 5 days. When the physician asks her if she has taken any medication for her symptoms, she answers, “My husband and I possess great powers to heal sickness. So I tried to cure my symptoms with my power. However, due to some divine cause, it did not work this time, so I thought I should seek medical advice”. Upon asking her husband about this, he says, "I have always had an immense ability to heal others through my powerful thoughts. It is only after I married her that she came to realize the powers within herself.” The physician examines her and prescribes appropriate medications for her symptoms. A year later, the woman presents again to the same physician with a cough and cold for 2 days. The physician asks her why did she not use her ‘power’ this time. She replies, “I separated from my husband 6 months ago, and I no longer believe that I nor my husband had any special power.” The woman denies any hallucinations, mood disturbances, and socio-occupational impairment to date. Which of the following conditions was this patient most likely suffering from?
- A. Brief psychotic disorder
- B. Folie à deux (Correct Answer)
- C. Culture-specific psychosis
- D. Residual phase of schizophrenia
- E. Schizophreniform disorder
Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs Explanation: ***Folie à deux***
- This condition is characterized by a **shared delusional belief** between two or more people who are in a close relationship. One person, typically the dominant partner, has a primary psychotic disorder with delusions, and the other person adopts these delusions.
- In this case, the husband likely initiated the delusional belief about healing powers, which his wife subsequently adopted. Her belief resolved when she separated from him, indicating the **dependent nature** of her delusion.
*Brief psychotic disorder*
- This disorder involves a sudden onset of psychotic symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech or behavior) lasting more than one day but less than one month, with eventual full return to premorbid functioning.
- While the patient exhibited a delusional belief, the **shared nature** with her husband and the **resolution upon separation** are more characteristic of folie à deux than an independent brief psychotic episode.
*Culture-specific psychosis*
- This refers to psychotic symptoms and syndromes that are recognized within a particular culture and associated with specific cultural explanations.
- Although some cultures may have beliefs in spiritual healing, the specific scenario of a **delusional belief shared between two individuals** in a close relationship points more directly to folie à deux rather than a broad culture-specific psychosis.
*Residual phase of schizophrenia*
- This phase occurs after an acute episode of schizophrenia, where prominent positive symptoms (delusions, hallucinations) have subsided, but milder negative symptoms (e.g., social withdrawal, blunted affect) or attenuated positive symptoms persist.
- The patient explicitly **denies hallucinations, mood disturbances, and socio-occupational impairment**, and her delusional belief was directly linked to her husband, which does not fit the diagnostic criteria for a residual phase of schizophrenia.
*Schizophreniform disorder*
- This disorder is characterized by symptoms similar to schizophrenia (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, negative symptoms) but lasts for more than one month and less than six months.
- The patient's presentation does not describe the broad range of symptoms or the duration required for a schizophreniform disorder, and the **resolving nature of her delusion upon separation** is a key differentiating factor.
Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs US Medical PG Question 8: A 44-year-old man is brought to the clinic by his wife insisting that her husband has been acting strange lately. He is a dentist by profession and has no known medical conditions. For the past 6 weeks, he has insisted on listening to the 6 PM news on the radio. He is adamant that the news anchor is referencing his life during the broadcasts. Apart from this, his wife states that her husband is fine. He and his wife deny the use of any prescribed medications or illicit drugs. He is a non-smoker and drinks alcohol only on social occasions. Physical examination and routine laboratory investigations are normal. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- A. Persecutory delusions
- B. Delusion of control
- C. Erotomanic delusions
- D. Delusion of reference (Correct Answer)
- E. Grandiose delusions
Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs Explanation: ***Delusion of reference***
- This is characterized by the belief that **events, objects, or people in the environment** have a particular and unusual significance, often of a negative or threatening nature, specifically directed at oneself.
- The man's belief that the **news anchor is referencing his life** during broadcasts, despite no actual connection, is a classic presentation of a delusion of reference.
*Persecutory delusions*
- **Persecutory delusions** involve the belief that one is being tormented, followed, tricked, spied on, or ridiculed.
- While the delusion involves external references, it does not explicitly state that the news anchor is actively *harming* or *conspiring against* him, making it less specific than a delusion of reference, which describes the belief that common occurrences refer to oneself.
*Delusion of control*
- This delusion involves the belief that **one's thoughts, feelings, impulses, or actions are not one's own** but are being imposed or controlled by some external force.
- The patient's symptom is about external events referring to him, not about his internal experiences being controlled by an external force.
*Erotomanic delusions*
- This involves the belief that **another person, usually of higher status, is in love with the individual**.
- There is no indication in the scenario that the man believes the news anchor is in love with him.
*Grandiose delusions*
- This is characterized by beliefs of **inflated worth, power, knowledge, identity, or a special relationship to a deity or famous person**.
- The patient's delusion does not involve exaggerated self-importance or a belief in special abilities, but rather a misinterpretation of external communications.
Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs US Medical PG Question 9: A 45-year-old man visits a psychiatrist with his wife asking for help with their ongoing family problem. The couple has been married for 20 years and the last 2 months the patient is fully convinced that his wife is cheating on him. He has hired numerous private investigators, who deny any such evidence for an extramarital affair. This persistent belief has begun to stress both sides of the family. The spouse has never in the past nor currently shown any evidence of infidelity. He is still able to hold a steady job and provide for his 2 children. Which of the following statements below is a diagnostic criterion for the above condition?
- A. Delusions are better explained by another DSM-5 diagnosis
- B. Must have prominent hallucinations in addition to delusions
- C. Daily functioning must be impaired
- D. Must have active symptoms for 1 month followed by 6 months total duration
- E. Delusions must be non-bizarre (Correct Answer)
Cultural aspects of delusional beliefs Explanation: ***Delusions must be non-bizarre***
- This is a key diagnostic criterion for **delusional disorder**, where the delusions are plausible and involve situations that could conceivably happen, even if they aren't true (e.g., being cheated on, followed, or having a disease).
- The patient's belief that his wife is cheating on him, despite evidence to the contrary, is a **plausible but false belief**, fitting the definition of a non-bizarre delusion.
*Delusions are better explained by another DSM-5 diagnosis*
- This is an **exclusion criterion**; if delusions are better accounted for by another disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, mood disorder with psychotic features, substance-induced psychosis), then delusional disorder is not diagnosed.
- The patient's presentation does not suggest other DSM-5 diagnoses that would better explain the delusions.
*Must have prominent hallucinations in addition to delusions*
- **Prominent hallucinations** are usually associated with disorders like **schizophrenia** or **schizoaffective disorder**.
- In **delusional disorder**, hallucinations, if present, are not prominent and are typically related to the delusional theme.
*Daily functioning must be impaired*
- A distinguishing characteristic of delusional disorder is that **daily functioning is typically not markedly impaired**, and behavior is not obviously bizarre, apart from the direct impact of the delusion.
- The patient in the vignette is able to hold a steady job and care for his children, which supports this point.
*Must have active symptoms for 1 month followed by 6 months total duration*
- This criterion (1 month active symptoms, 6 months total duration) is specific to the diagnosis of **schizophrenia**, not delusional disorder.
- For delusional disorder, the duration of delusions is **1 month or longer**, without necessarily requiring a specific active phase or total duration like in schizophrenia.
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