Abstract
Background: Persecutory delusions are often associated with low self-esteem, depression and emotional distress. However, some patients acknowledge that their beliefs positively impact on their well-being which has been linked to non-adherence with medication. The present study aimed to investigate the moderators for the relationship of subjective well-being and persecutory delusions. Method: We recruited 43 patients with acute (n = 33) or remitted (n = 10) persecutory delusions and 33 healthy participants. Following a self-esteem measure and the assessment of psychopathology we conducted a semistructured interview with the patients to assess the contents of persecutory delusions (e.g. power of the persecutor). Results: Patients displayed significantly lower global self-esteem than healthy controls. In the acutely deluded sample (n = 33) patients with special abilities had significantly lower scores of depression and emotional distress than patients with normal or lower-than-normal abilities. A feeling of powerlessness towards the persecutor was associated with lower self-esteem and higher depression. Delusions which imparted the patient with special importance and delusions of being desired by someone else were significantly associated with higher levels of self-esteem. Conclusions: We conclude that the content of delusions is important when planning medical and psychological treatment. Clinicians are advised to take the associations between specific convictions and subjective well-being into account.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 237-248 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Psychosis |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 3 Jul 2015 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- gain from illness
- paranoia
- persecutory delusions
- psychosis
- schizophrenia
- self-esteem