A persecutory delusion is a type of delusional condition in which the affected person believes that harm is going to occur to oneself by a persecutor, despite a clear lack of evidence.

Persecutory delusions can be caused by a combination of genetic (family history) and environmental (drug and alcohol use, emotional abuse) factors.

[8] In urban environments, going outside leads people with this delusion to have a major increases in levels of paranoia, anxiety, depression and lower self-esteem.

[3] People with this delusion often live a more inactive life and are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, having a lifespan 14.5 years less than the average as a result.

[12][13] Safety behaviors are also frequently found — individuals who feel threatened perform actions in order to avert their feared delusion from occurring.

Some may also try to lessen the threat, such as only leaving the house with a trusted person, reducing their visibility by taking alternative routes, increasing their vigilance by looking up and down the street, or acting as if they would resist attack by being prepared to strike out.

Genetic elements are also thought to influence, family members with schizophrenia and delusional disorder are at a higher risk of developing persecutory delusion.

[17] Persecutory delusions are thought to be linked with problems in self-other control, that is, when an individual adjusts the representation of oneself and others in social interactions.

[1] Certain factors further contribute to this, including having a low socioeconomic status, lacking access to education, experiencing discrimination, humiliation, and threats during early life, and being an immigrant.

This encompasses thoughts that oneself has been drugged, spied upon, harmed, mocked, cheated, conspired against, persecuted, harassed and so on and may procure justice by making reports, taking action or responding violently.