Delusion of Reference Definition: Delusions of reference refers to the strongly held belief that random events, objects, behaviors

of others, etc. have a particular and unusual significance to oneself. When less firmly held or organized, these beliefs are called ideas of reference. Examples: A person might believe that secret messages about him are broadcast in a weekly television show, to the point where he would record the programs and watch them again and again. Ideas of reference and delusions of reference involve people having a belief or perception that irrelevant, unrelated or innocuous phenomena in the world refer to them directly or have special personal significance: 'the notion that everything one perceives in the world relates to one's own destiny'. In psychiatry, delusions of reference form part of the diagnostic criteria for psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia, delusional disorder, or bipolar disorder during the elevated stages of mania. To a lesser extent, it can be a hallmark of paranoid personality disorder. Such symptoms can also be caused by intoxication, especially with hallucinogens or stimulants like methamphetamine. Delusions of reference 'Ideas of reference must be distinguished from delusions of reference, which may be similar in content but are held with greater conviction'. With the former, but not the latter, the person holding them may have 'the feeling that strangers are talking about him/her, but if challenged, acknowledges that the people may be talking about something else'. At the same time, there may be 'transitions...to delusions' from ideas of reference: whereas 'abortive ideas of reference, in the beginning of their development or, in Schizotypal personalities, continuously, may remain subject to the patient's criticism...under adverse circumstances, by minimal economic shifts, however, reality testing may be lost and daydreams of this kind turn into delusions'. It has been noted that the character 'rigidly controlled by his superego...readily forms sensitive ideas of reference. A key experience may occur in his life circumstances and quite suddenly these ideas become structured as delusions of reference'. Within the 'focus of paranoia...that man crossing his legs, that woman wearing that blouse - it can't just be accidental. It has a particular meaning, is intended to convey something'. Examples Persons with ideas of reference may experience: Believing that 'somehow everyone on a passing city bus is talking about them, yet they may be able to acknowledge this is unlikely'. A feeling that people on television or radio are talking about or talking directly to them Believing that headlines or stories in newspapers are written especially for them Believing that events (even world events) have been deliberately contrived for them, or have special personal significance for them Believing that the lyrics of a song are specifically about them Seeing objects or events as being set up deliberately to convey a special or particular meaning to themselves Thinking 'that the slightest careless movement on the part of another person had great personal meaning...increased significance'.

Restricted Affect Definition: Having a far narrower range of emotional expression than would be expected; muted emotional reactivity. Example: A woman describes a severely painful experience, but conveys only minor grief rather than anguish or outrage. Blunted affect is the scientific term describing a lack of emotional reactivity (affect display) on the part of an individual. It is manifest as a failure to express feelings either verbally or non-verbally, especially when talking about issues that would normally be expected to engage the emotions. Expressive gestures are rare and there is little animation in facial expression or vocal inflection. Blunt affect "can be symptomatic of schizophrenia, depression, or brain damage". "The difference between flat and blunted affect is in degree. A person with flat affect has no or nearly no emotional expression. He or she may not react at all to circumstances that usually evoke strong emotions in others. A person with blunted affect, on the other hand, has a significantly reduced intensity in emotional expression". Related symptoms Blunted affect is very similar to anhedonia, the decrease or cessation of all feelings of pleasure (which thus affects enjoyment, happiness, fun, interest, and satisfaction). In the case of anhedonia, emotions relating to pleasure will not be expressed as much or at all because they are literally not experienced or are decreased. Both blunted affect and anhedonia are considered negative symptoms of schizophrenia, meaning that they are indicative of a lack of something. There are some other negative symptoms of schizophrenia which include avolition, alogia and catatonic behaviour. Closely related is alexithymia a condition describing people who "lack words for their feelings. Indeed, they seem to lack feelings altogether. Although this may actually be, because of their inability to express emotion rather than from an absence of emotion altogether". Alexithymic patients however can provide clues via assessment presentation which may be indicative of emotional arousal. "If the amygdala is severed from the rest of the brain, the result is a striking inability to gauge the emotional significance of events; this condition is sometimes called 'affective blindness'".

delusion /delusion/ (d-loozhun) an idiosyncratic false belief that is firmly maintained in spite of incontrovertible and obvious proof or evidence to the contrary.delusional bizarre delusion one that is patently absurd, with no possible basis in fact. delusion of control the delusion that one's thoughts, feelings, and actions are not one's own but are being imposed by someone else or other external force. depressive delusion one that is congruent with a predominant depressed mood. erotomanic delusion one associated with erotomania. delusion of grandeur , grandiose delusion delusional conviction of one's own importance, power, or knowledge or that one is, or has a special relationship with, a deity or a famous person. delusion of jealousy a delusional belief that one's spouse or lover is unfaithful, based on erroneous inferences drawn from innocent events imagined to be evidence. mixed delusion one in which no central theme predominates. delusion of negation , nihilistic delusion a depressive delusion that the self or part of the self, part of the body, other persons, or the whole world has ceased to exist. delusion of persecution a delusion that one is being attacked, harassed, persecuted, cheated, or conspired against. delusion of reference a delusional conviction that ordinary events, objects, or behaviors of others have particular and unusual meanings specifically for oneself. systematized delusions a group of delusions organized around a common theme.