Numerous delusions have been studied which are highly specific and which can present in isolation in people whose beliefs are otherwise entirely unremarkable - "monothematic delusions" such as Capgras or Cotard delusions. We review such delusions and summarize our 2-factor theory of delusional belief which seeks to explain what causes these delusional beliefs to arise initially and what prevent...

The present study investigated the relationship between delusion proneness, as assessed using the Peters et al. Delusions Inventory [Peters, E.R., Joseph, S.A., Garety, P.A., 1999. The measurement of delusional ideation in the normal population: Introducing the PDI (Peters et al. Delusions Inventory). Schizophr. Bull. 25 553-576], and cognitive insight, as assessed using the Beck Cognitive Insi...

BACKGROUND Delusional parasitosis is infrequently seen in hospital-based consultation-liaison psychiatry. AIMS Although there are many publications on delusional parasitosis, this report reviews a unique case that was diagnosed during a hospital admission and treated over the next 36 months. METHOD Case report and literature review. RESULTS This case report describes a 65-year-old man who...

Forty eight patients of delusional parasitosis seen during a short span of five years were studied and underlying psychosocial factors were analysed. The findings revealed that elderly, married, and illiterate persons of rural area from lower socio-economic stratum were distinctly more affected. The incidence of the disease was greater during the months of May to August. Majority of them had ab...

The pattern of delusions in a cross-cultural hospital population was studied. It was found that there were cultural differences in persecutory, grandiose and religious, and sexual and fantastic delusions, accounted for mainly by the relatively higher frequencies in the African and West Indian cultural groups. These phenomena can be understood in terms of the cultural backgrounds of these groups...

I>~ a previous essay we gave a cursory consideration to a wide-spread popular delusion, which had taken the form of demonology and divination, or "the black art." We then thought it probable that, as "one fire puts out another burning," and similia similibus curantur, this more recent absurdity would extinguish, or at least counteract, the follies of mesmerism. In this idea we were mistaken; fo...