Thought insertion

Thought insertion is defined by the ICD-10 as feeling as if one’s thoughts are not one’s own, but rather belong to someone else and have been inserted into one’s mind The person experiencing thought insertion will not necessarily know where the thought is coming from, but is able to distinguish between their own thoughts and those inserted into their minds. However, patients do not experience all thoughts as inserted, only certain ones, normally following a similar content or pattern. This phenomenon is classified as a delusion and is a symptom of alien control. A person with this delusional belief is convinced of the veracity of their beliefs and is unwilling to accept such diagnosis.