Which delusion involves the belief that one's thoughts have been removed by an outside force?

Which delusion involves the belief that one's thoughts have been removed by an outside force?

• A. Thought Insertion
• B. Delusions
• C. Somatic Delusions
• D. Thought Withdrawal

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is distinguishing different types of delusions about thoughts. Believing that external forces have removed one’s thoughts from the mind is a thought withdrawal delusion. This is a classic example of a misattribution of one’s own cognitive processes: the person feels their thoughts are being taken away, as if they’ve been pulled out of their mind. It’s different from thought insertion, where someone believes external forces are putting thoughts into the mind, and from thought broadcasting, where one believes their thoughts are being heard by others. Somatic delusions involve bodily sensations or functions, not thoughts. So the belief that thoughts have been removed by an outside force best fits thought withdrawal.

The key idea here is distinguishing different types of delusions about thoughts. Believing that external forces have removed one’s thoughts from the mind is a thought withdrawal delusion. This is a classic example of a misattribution of one’s own cognitive processes: the person feels their thoughts are being taken away, as if they’ve been pulled out of their mind. It’s different from thought insertion, where someone believes external forces are putting thoughts into the mind, and from thought broadcasting, where one believes their thoughts are being heard by others. Somatic delusions involve bodily sensations or functions, not thoughts. So the belief that thoughts have been removed by an outside force best fits thought withdrawal.