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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Creating Virtual-hand and Virtual-face Illusions to Investigate Self-representation

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Published on: March 1, 2017

Delusions and self-esteem

B Bowins¹, G Shugar

¹General Psychiatry Division, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, Toronto, Ontario.

Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Revue Canadienne De Psychiatrie

|April 16, 1998

Summary

Psychotic patients' delusions and hallucinations reflect their self-esteem and self-regard. This finding suggests that delusional content aligns with patients' self-views, potentially explaining delusion persistence.

Area of Science:

Psychiatry
Clinical Psychology
Psychopathology

Background:

Delusions and hallucinations are core symptoms of psychosis.
The relationship between self-esteem and psychotic symptom content is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To examine if global and specific self-esteem influence the content of delusions and hallucinations.
To investigate if self-esteem impacts the self-enhancing or self-diminishing nature of delusions.

Main Methods:

Assessed delusions and hallucinations in 40 psychotic patients.
Rated content for self-esteem indicators and self-enhancement/diminishment.
Correlated ratings with self-esteem inventory results.

Main Results:

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Delusional content significantly reflects global self-esteem.
Self-regard was also found to be mirrored in delusional content.

Conclusions:

Global self-esteem and self-regard are key personality factors shaping delusional content.
Delusional content appears consistent with patients' self-perceptions, potentially contributing to delusion persistence.