Delusions of persecution are best described as:

• A. Fixed false belief that others are threatening or conspiring against them.
• B. Temporary mood swing.
• C. A belief that oneself is god.
• D. A memory loss for personal information.

Answer: (A)

Delusions are fixed false beliefs that persist despite clear evidence to the contrary. Persecutory delusions specifically involve the belief that others are threatening, spying on, or conspiring against the person. This belief is rigid and not swayed by reasoning, which is why it best fits the description of delusions of persecution—and you’ll commonly see this theme in psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.

The other descriptions don’t fit delusions of persecution: a temporary mood swing is a transient emotional change, not a persistent false belief; a belief that oneself is god is a grandiose delusion, a different persecutory theme; memory loss for personal information points to amnesia, not a belief about others' threats.