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The Psychopathology of Delusion of Control According to Subjective Experience.

Marco Fierro, Ana María Hernández, John Malcolm

Revista Colombiana de psiquiatria 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.rcp.2017.02.004 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Qualitative study Peer reviewed
Sample size 7
Population Patients with schizophrenia (6) or schizophreniform disorder (1)
Topics Philosophy of mind
Keywords Alien control Control alienígena Delirio de control Delusion of control Esquizofrenia Experiencia subjetiva Fenomenología Inserción de pensamientos Schizophrenia Subjective experience Thought insertion
Key findings The authors argue that delusion of control is not an isolated, pure symptom but a narrative variety of persecutory delusion, arising jointly with other psychiatric symptoms. Patients experienced control as partial, never complete, and in all cases the authors traced the narrative formation of the delusion from its origins in persecutory delusions and concomitant symptoms.

Abstract

Delusion of control, including thought insertion, occurs in 20% of patients with schizophrenia. However little is known of its psychopathology, and studies involving patients are scarce. To explore the subjective experience of patients with delusion of control and to propose a psychopathological explanation based on empirical evidence. Qualitative exploratory study of 7 patients (6 with schizophrenia and 1 with schizophreniform disorder). A phenomenologically-oriented semi-structured interview was used. Delusion of control is not an isolated and pure symptom; it is always immersed in the context of a persecutory delusion and other psychiatric symptoms. The patient experiences partial control, i.e. the control is never complete. In all cases, it is possible to trace the history of the narrative formation of delusion of control from its origins in persecutory delusions and other concomitant symptoms. The delusion of control is a narrative resulting from the joint presence of a persecutory delusion and other psychiatric symptoms. For the patient, the delusion of control is the narrative of the elaborate expression of the meaning of the anomalous experience. Delusion of control is a narrative variety of persecutory delusion.

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