Peters Delusion Scale

Welcome to Peters Delusion Scale

Instructions:

There is no time limit for this test. Please answer at your own pace.
This test consists of 21 questions in total.
The next question will appear automatically after you select an answer.
You can return to modify your answer using the "Previous" button.
All test results on this site are for reference only and do not constitute professional advice.

About the Peters Delusions Inventory (PDI) web adaptation (based on the original)

1. Origin and Core Idea of the Test

The Peters Delusions Inventory, PDI, was originally used in research on psychotic symptoms and later widely applied in the study of personality disorders and subclinical paranoia. This version isa web adaptation based on the original, assessing delusional tendencies across five dimensions - persecutory, reference, grandiose, control, and somatic - with the 'persecutory' and 'ideas of reference' dimensions highly correlated with paranoid personality traits.

Through 21 self-report items scored on a 5-point scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree), this test quantifies your delusional tendencies from the angles of everyday cognition, emotional experience, and behavioral tendencies, helping you understand your profile on the paranoid-cognition dimension (Note: this test is a web adaptation, not the original scale; results are for self-awareness only and cannot serve as a clinical diagnosis).

2. The Five Core Assessment Dimensions

🛡️ Persecutory Delusions: the belief that others intend to harm, watch, or manipulate you; the core feature of paranoid personality

🔗 Ideas of Reference: assigning special meaning to unrelated people, events, and things as if all relate to you

🌟 Grandiose Delusions: believing you have special abilities, status, or a mission beyond objective reality

🎛️ Delusions of Control: believing your thoughts, actions, and emotions are controlled by outside forces

🩺 Somatic Delusions: believing unusual bodily sensations are caused by external influences

3. Test Principles and Scoring Logic

The test follows the core logic of 'cognitive assessment → dimension scoring → severity grading'. The 21 items map onto the five delusion dimensions, scored on a 5-point scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree), computing each dimension score and a total score:

Persecutory delusions (4 items): focused on tendencies to feel watched, harmed, manipulated, or obstructed
Ideas of reference (4 items): focused on tendencies to over-interpret others' behavior, media content, and environmental events
Grandiose delusions (7 items): focused on exaggerated beliefs about special abilities, special status, and special missions
Delusions of control (4 items): focused on tendencies to feel thoughts, actions, emotions, or memories are controlled
Somatic delusions (2 items): focused on tendencies to link unusual bodily sensations to external causes

Total score rule: the 21 item scores are added (total range 21-105) and divided into four levels:
• 21-41: mild delusional tendency (mostly situational cognitive bias)
• 42-62: moderate delusional tendency (possible subclinical paranoid features)
• 63-83: marked delusional tendency (professional evaluation recommended)
• 84-105: severe delusional tendency (professional psychological support recommended)

4. Use Cases and Value

🔹 Self-knowledge exploration

Understand your profile on the paranoid-cognition dimension and identify possible cognitive biases, such as 'why do I always feel people are talking about me' or 'why do I tend to over-interpret others' behavior'.

🔹 Relationship reflection

Analyze how your cognitive patterns affect relationships, understanding how paranoid tendencies influence trust building, communication efficiency, and relationship quality.

🔹 Mental health awareness

As a self-screening tool for mental health, it identifies cognitive patterns that may need attention so you can adjust in time or seek professional support.

🔹 Personality insight

Explore possible paranoid traits in your personality and understand their origins and manifestations as a reference for personal growth.

5. Things to Know Before Taking the Test

This test isa web adaptation based on the original, not an official clinical version; results are for self-awareness only and cannot serve as a basis for diagnosing mental illness
Answer based on how you truly felt over the past month; no need to avoid or embellish - honest answers reflect your actual cognitive state
The test takes about 3-5 minutes; complete it in a quiet setting so outside distractions don't affect your answers
Delusional tendencies are not absolutely 'good' or 'bad'; mild tendencies are a normal human defense mechanism, while excess may affect quality of life
If your results show marked/severe delusional tendencies, seek evaluation from a professional counselor or psychiatrist

Peters Delusion Scale