Social Work Examination Services (SWES) Human Behavior Practice Test

What symptom might NOT be associated with a delusion?

1. Paranoia

2. Hallucinations

3. Confusion

4. Memory loss

The correct answer is: Memory loss

Memory loss is typically not considered a symptom directly associated with delusions. Delusions are fixed, false beliefs that are resistant to reason or confrontation with actual evidence. They are characterized by a strong conviction in these inaccurate beliefs despite clear contrary information. In mental health contexts, memory loss is often linked to different conditions such as dementia or cognitive impairments rather than directly tied to delusions. Conditions involving delusions more commonly manifest with disturbances in thought processes (like paranoia) and perceptions (such as hallucinations), rather than deficits in memory itself. Confusion can occur but is more related to disorganized thinking than to the content of delusions. Thus, while other symptoms like paranoia or hallucinations can readily coexist with delusional beliefs, memory loss does not align as a primary characteristic of delusions, making it the correct answer in this context.