308 – Apocalyptic delusions

Abstract

This study attempts to present the genesis of the world end (Apocalyptic) delusions. Religious idea of the world end given in the Sacred Scripture is being found in the content of delusions but is added with inclusion of modern cultural signs, personal values and beliefs and description of apocalypse, produced in delusional thinking of nowadays patients suffering from schizophrenia and related disorders.We have studied the content of delusions in patients with schizophrenia looking for apocalyptic themes using Fragebogen fur psychotische Symptome (FPS) - a semi-structured questionnaire developed by Cultural Psychiatry International research group in Vienna, which was translated into the language of the participating patient, double translation was performed. Examination was conducted on 295 patients (the mean age - 42.4 [SD 9.7] years; women - 51.5%), suffering from schizophrenia at Vilnius Mental Health Center in Lithuania, among whom 69.8% reported apocalyptic delusional themes (lifetime-prevalence), both religious and culture-sensitive. Investigation of the influence of personal importance of their religious beliefs on the content of (Apocalyptic) delusions was made.We divided the content into three goups: religiuos content, modrnern and global.

Spiritual and Religious Issues in Psychotherapy with Schizophrenia: Cultural Implications and Implementation

“…Rudalevicienel and colleagues [68] have indicated that religious based delusions may take on a cultural pattern within different groups. In their study of apocalyptic delusions, they found these types of delusions to be cross-cultural regardless of religious background.…”