Nature And Types of Delusion In Schizophrenia And Mania – Is There A Difference ?

Background: Delusions have been regarded as a core sign of psychosis and can be found in various psychiatric illnesses including Schizophrenia and Mania and considerable overlap between the types of delusion have been observed in both Schizophrenia and Mania Aims: This study therefore aims at examining and comparing the nature and types of delusion in schizophrenia and mania Methods: a total of 60 patients (30 each in Schizophrenia and Mania) were selected by systematic random sampling from the patients admitted in the Department of Psychiatry, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh. Nature and types of the delusions were assessed by using Present State Examination -10 (PSE -10) of Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) Results: Delusion of reference was by far the most common delusion in schizophrenia and as many as 25 patients had Delusion of reference. 23 patients had Delusion of persecution. Delusion of Grandiose Identity and Delusion of Grandiose Abilities were found to be significantly high in Mania as compared to Schizophrenia (p=.000). As compared to Schizophrenia; in Mania the delusions were mostly monothematic at the significance level of p =.000. Conclusion: Delusion as a prominent feature of the clinical picture compared to other symptoms was seen in both the diagnostic groups with no statistically significant difference between themselves. However Delusions in mania were more mood congruent and are mostly monothematic as compared to those in schizophrenia