A 30-year-old woman believes her neighbour is in love with her based on his glances and nodding. No actual communication confirming this has occurred. She has no hallucinations, behaviour is otherwise normal, and the belief has persisted for 3 months. The most accurate DSM-5 diagnosis is:

• A Erotomania subtype of Delusional Disorder ✓
• B Paranoid schizophrenia
• C Grandiose subtype of Delusional Disorder
• D Brief Psychotic Disorder

Explanation

The erotomania subtype of Delusional Disorder (de Clérambault's syndrome) involves a fixed, non-bizarre delusion that another person (often of higher status) is in love with the patient. Functioning is generally intact, which distinguishes it from schizophrenia. Duration exceeds 1 month ruling out Brief Psychotic Disorder. The delusion content — being loved by someone without objective evidence — is erotomania, not grandiosity.

Reference: Kaplan & Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry, 11th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.