omatic delusion_ is one centering upon alterations in the organs or
their functions.

Example: Absence of a stomach, inability to swallow.

A _nihilistic delusion_ is one which denies existence in whole or part.

Example: Mother denies the existence of her child.

A _delusion of reference_ is one in which the deluded individual
believes himself an object of written, spoken, or implied comment.

Example: The actors on the stage are directing their remarks directly
against the victim in the box.

A _shut-in personality_ is one that habitually responds inadequately to
normal social appeal.

_Sense of unreality_ is one of the commonest psychic alterations through
which customary sensation states are displaced by unnatural and usually
distressing ones.

Examples: The breakfast table appears undefinably altered.
Laughter is accompanied by strange, rather than by normal,
sensations.

_Morbid inhibition_ is an abnormal, negative activity of the will.

Sometimes a patient will try pitifully to express some thought or
feeling; the desire to explain is there, but will is blocked in action.
Or the patient attempts to dress, makes repeated new beginnings, but
cannot succeed. We say, "He is inhibited."

An _obsession_ is an idea which morbidly dominates the mind, constantly
suggesting irrational action.

Obsessed patients may consistently step in such a way as to avoid the
juncture of the flagstones on the pavement; may insist on removing their
shoes in church; may hail each person met on the street and tap him on
the arm; may refuse to ever leave the house without an open umbrella; or
may try to attack every man they see, not because they want to hurt or
kill, but because they are obsessed to the performance of the action.

A _tic_ is a useless, habitual spasm of a muscle imitating a once
purposeful action.

Motor tics, such as habitual jerking of the arms, shrugging the
shoulder, contorting the face, shaking or nodding the head, snapping the
fingers, etc., are very common among nervous children, and even in many
otherwise normal grown-ups.

_Distractibility_ is an abnormal variation of attention.

The common inability of the hypomanic patient to hold his attention to
any subject when another is open, is very like the distractibility of
the child who turns to every new interest as it is presented.

_Negativism_ is a state of persistent compulsion to contrary response to
suggestion.