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Making sense of delusions.

¹Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.

|August 1, 1992

Summary

Conventional psychiatry views true delusions as primary and irreducible, focusing on form over meaning. This perspective, influenced by Jaspers, overlooks the psychological significance of delusions.

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Area of Science:

Psychiatry
Psychology
Philosophy of Mind

Background:

Historically, true delusions were considered primary and irreducible, necessitating organic explanations.
Karl Jaspers distinguished primary delusions from secondary ones, but emphasized the former's theoretical importance.
Anglo-American psychiatry adopted Jaspers' view, prioritizing the formal characteristics of delusions over their content or meaning.

Observation:

Jaspers acknowledged secondary delusions, which could be linked to affect, experiences, or hallucinations.
However, secondary delusions were deemed less significant than primary delusions, which represented a fundamental disruption of understandable connections.
The focus on form over sense in delusion research stems from this theoretical hierarchy.

Findings:

The conventional psychiatric approach, influenced by Jaspers, has led to an overemphasis on the formal aspects of delusions.
This perspective neglects the potential for understanding the psychological sense and meaning embedded within delusional experiences.
Research has predominantly analyzed the structure of delusions rather than their subjective significance.

Implications:

Re-evaluating the distinction between primary and secondary delusions could offer new insights.
Incorporating the study of delusion sense may enhance our understanding of psychosis.
A more holistic approach, considering both form and meaning, is crucial for advancing delusion research.

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