A 27-year-old man states that his actions are being controlled by an external force and that thoughts which are not his own are being placed into his mind by a satellite transmitter. He is convinced of this despite all reassurance. This phenomenon is best described as:
- A Delusional perception
- B Thought broadcasting
- C Passivity phenomenon (delusion of control) ✓
- D Ideas of reference
Correct answer: C. Passivity phenomenon (delusion of control)
Explanation
The experience that one's actions, thoughts, or emotions are under external control is a passivity phenomenon, a Schneiderian first-rank symptom with strong diagnostic weight for schizophrenia. Thought broadcasting refers to the belief that one's thoughts escape the mind and are known to others, which is distinct from thoughts being inserted from outside. Delusional perception attaches abnormal significance to a genuine perception, and ideas of reference are less fixed and systematised.
Reference: Kaplan and Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry, 12th ed.
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