Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Fixed fantasy
Introduction
A fixed fantasy is a belief or system of beliefs held by a single individual to be genuine, but that cannot be verified in reality. The term is typically applied to individuals suffering from some type of psychiatric dysregulation, most often a personality disorder.
A fixed fantasy differs from a delusion or delusional system in that, superficially, a fixed fantasy tends to appear plausible, and the person expressing the fantasy is not suffering a break from reality, as occurs in a delusional state.
A fixed fantasy also differs from a religion or superstition in that these are culturally bound, whereas a fixed fantasy is specific to an individual.
In and of themselves, fixed fantasies are typically not harmful, but they can sometimes interfere with an individual’s ability to develop a coherent and integrated life experience.