Jealous type: This subtype applies when the central theme of the individual's delusion is that his or her spouse or lover is unfaithful.
Persecutory type: This subtype applies when the central theme of the delusion in- volves the individual’s belief that he or she is being conspired against, cheated, spied on, followed. poisoned or drugged, maliciously maligned, harassed, or obstructed in the pursuit of long-term goals.
Somatic type: This subtype applies when the central theme of the delusion involves bodily functions or sensations.
Mixed type: This subtype applies when no one delusional theme predominates.
Unspecified type: This subtype applies when the dominant delusional belief cannot be clearly determined or is not described in the specific types (e.g., referential delu- sions without a prominent persecutory or grandiose component).
Specify it:
With bizarre content: Delusions are deemed bizarre if they are clearly implausible, not understandable, and not derived from ordinary life experiences (e.g., an individual's be- lief that a stranger has removed his or her internal organs and replaced them with some— one else's organs without leaving any wounds or scars).
Specify if:
The following course specifiers are only to be used after a 1-year duration of the disorder:
First episode, currently in acute episode: First manifestation of the disorder meet- ing the defining diagnostic symptom and time criteria. An acute episode is a time pe- riod in which the symptom criteria are fulfilled.
First episode, currently in partial remission: Partial remission is a time period dur- ing which an improvement after a previous episode is maintained and in which the de- fining criteria of the disorder are only partially fulfilled.
First episode, currently in full remission: Full remission is a period of time after a previous episode during which no disorder-specitic symptoms are present.
Multiple episodes, currently in acute episode
Multiple episodes, currently in partial remission
Multiple episodes, currently in full remission
Continuous: Symptoms fulfilling the diagnostic symptom criteria of the disorder are remaining for the majority of the illness course, with subthreshold symptom periods be- ing very brief relative to the overall course.
Specify current severity:
Severity is rated by a quantitative assessment of the primary symptoms of psychosis, including delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, abnormal psychomotor be- havior, and negative symptoms. Each of these symptoms may be rated for its current severity (most severe in the last 7 days) on a 5-point scale ranging from 0 (not present) to 4 (present and severe). (See CIinician-Ftated Dimensions of Psychosis Symptom
Severity in the chapter "Assessment Measures")
Note: Diagnosis of delusional disorder can be made without using this severity specifier.