A person named ‘R’ claims that he speaks to the dead, sees their spirits and they guide him through his entire daily routine. Other than that he also says that he is like God. Which of the following symptoms of schizophrenia are expressed through R’s behavior?
(A) Delusion of grandeur
(B) Hallucinations
(C) Delusion of persecution
(D) Catatonic stupor
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → (A) and (B) only
(A) Delusion of grandeur Correct. A delusion is a false belief firmly held on inadequate grounds. In delusions of grandeur, people believe themselves to be specially empowered persons. R’s claim that he is like God is this delusion.
(B) Hallucinations Correct. Hallucinations are perceptions that occur in the absence of external stimuli. R ‘speaks to the dead’ and ‘sees their spirits’, so he hears and sees things that are not there: auditory and visual hallucinations.
(C) Delusion of persecution Incorrect. Here people believe they are being plotted against, spied on, slandered, threatened or attacked. R does not feel threatened; the spirits even guide him, so this delusion is not seen.
(D) Catatonic stupor Incorrect. It is a psychomotor symptom in which a person remains motionless and silent for long stretches of time. R goes through his entire daily routine, so he shows no stupor.
NCERT (2025-26): “Symptoms of Schizophrenia … Delusions of persecution are the most common in schizophrenia. People with this delusion believe that they are being plotted against, spied on, slandered, … threatened, attacked or deliberately victimised.…” “…In delusions of grandeur, people believe themselves to be specially empowered persons and in delusions of control, they believe that their feelings, thoughts and actions are controlled by others.…” “…People with schizophrenia may have hallucinations, i.e. perceptions that occur in the absence of external stimuli. Auditory hallucinations are most common in schizophrenia. Patients hear sounds or voices that speak words, phrases and sentences directly to the patient (second-person hallucination) or talk to one another referring to the patient as s/he (third-person hallucination).…” “…People in a catatonic stupor remain motionless and silent for long stretches of time.…” |