A patient with schizophrenia believes that the media is constantly discussing him. What is the correct term for this belief?

The belief that the media is constantly discussing an individual is classified as "ideas of reference." This phenomenon involves a person attributing personal significance to external events, often interpreting them as being specifically directed towards themselves. In this case, the individual believes that the media's discussions are relevant to them, which illustrates how ideas of reference manifest in schizophrenia.

This term distinguishes it from other related concepts. For example, delusions of grandeur involve an inflated sense of self-importance or entitlement, which does not directly pertain to the patient perceiving that external conversations are about them. Paranoid ideation refers to a general sense of suspicion and mistrust towards others, often involving feelings that others are out to harm one. Thought broadcasting entails the belief that one's thoughts are being broadcasted publicly or can be heard by others, which is a separate and more specific phenomenon. Therefore, the patient's experience aligns closely with ideas of reference, making it the accurate term for this situation.