Assignment task:
Zak is a Syrian refugee who is now living in Germany. Zak was separated from his wife and daughter who were sent to Lebanon. On top of that Zak was a medical doctor in Syria and is finding it impossible to gain employment in the medical field in Germany, he can't even find a job doing lab work. He's resorted to doing odd jobs just to survive. In his frustration Zak eventually starts thinking that the German government is conspiring to separate Syrian families and begin a mass extinction of Syrian nationals. Zak believes this because of the atrocities in the concentration camps during World War II. As a result of this Zak spends all of his free time on street corners spreading propaganda about the evils of the German government. Zak has been out on the same corner for over two months, some people who have become familiar with Zak describe that he's harmless but you can't talk to him or try convince him that he's wrong!
Please describe Zak's delusions making sure to classify them as persecutory, referential, etc.
Zak's diagnosis is delusional disorder. Please explain why he meets diagnostic criteria for that disorder. Additionally, please run a differential diagnosis and explain why he does not meet diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia or brief psychotic disorder.