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Published on: March 1, 2017
Correspondence between delusions and personal goals: a qualitative analysis
1Department of Psychology, St Ann's Hospital, London, UK.
Objectives:
This pilot study describes a qualitative method for exploring delusions in terms of motivational themes.
Design:
A semi-structured interview schedule was developed on the basis of an elementary conceptual frame specifying research questions. The analysis of each case uses a structured format. Triangulation was used to check: (i) reliability of motive categories; (ii) their consistent application to delusions.
Methods Of Analysis:
All patients had delusions and were diagnosed as having a psychotic disorder. Two types of analysis were used: (i) Interpretative phenomenological analysis with features of grounded analysis was used to classify motives. Data from 14 participants was used for this. (ii) The second phase was an examination of a possible correspondence of themes and involved: (a) a category-led thematic analysis of the delusion in terms of motivations; (b) a category-led thematic analysis of life goals and problems again in terms of motivations; and (c) an examination of correspondence between (a) and (b).
Results:
The classification of goals and difficulties suggested six main categories: social connection; competence; experiential base (i.e. states of mind and body); material base (e.g. housing); direction; and evaluation (i.e. how a person evaluates himself or believes others evaluate him). Four cases are presented, each exploring the correspondence of themes.
Conclusion:
The methods of analysis seemed coherent and useful. In the cases presented, the delusions appeared to relate to fundamental concerns in a person's life.
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