Paranoid Delusions: A Review Of Theoretical Explanations
- Author:
Dr. Fahmi Hassan, F. S.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Persecutory delusion, paranoid delusion, mental imagination, problem solving method.
- From:ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry
2011;12(1):1-9
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective: There are two general theoretical explanations for delusions, the deficit and
the motivational. In the deficit approach, scientists have argued that delusions are the
consequences of fundamental perceptual or reasoning deficits which cause the individual
to misunderstand what is happening in the world. The second approach views delusions
as serving a defensive, palliative function, as representing an attempt to relieve pain,
tension and distress. Methods: The present review article is based on literature review
about Paranoid Delusion theories. Results and Conclusion: This article reviews the most
important theories in the above mentioned approaches and it has found that we need more
studies to verify the results of these approaches. The deficits in reasoning ability for
example, need more explanations to show how and why these deficits occur and cause
persecutory delusions. In this article I suggest that there are basic cognitive impairments
that lead to disturbances in the mental imagination. These disturbances result on the two
cognitive deficits (two losses) and force a person to have delusional beliefs. This study is
a qualitative study based on judgments of some cases which the researcher has had the
opportunity to study