The cognitive neuropsychological understanding of persecutory delusions

Abstract

The cognitive neuropsychological understanding of persecutory delusions The cognitive neuropsychological understanding of persecutory delusions AbstractIn considering the contribution of cognitive neuropsychology to the understanding of persecutory delusions, we shall proceed in this chapter as follows: First, we shall consider the contribution of the more conventional clinical neuropsychological approach to the study of delusions. After all, cognitive neuropsychology developed as a hybrid of clinical neuropsychology (the psychological study of brain-injured people) and cognitive psychology (the study of the mental information-processing procedures that people use to perform such activities as speaking and understanding speech, and recognizing objects). Second, we shall outline the cognitive neuropsychological approach with brief reference to its history. Third, we shall describe how this approach has been applied to the study of delusions with reference to our two-deficit cognitive neuropsychological model of monothematic delusions. Finally we shall evaluate the applicability of this model to the explanation of other delusions that are not so obviously neuropsychological; here we shall focus on persecutory delusions.

Usefulness of models in the process of qualifying contents as delusional – case analysis

“…In this case, we find no neuropsychological factors as such, and unless we are able to prove that the expectation of social risk may be associated with deregulation of the neural network connecting the amygdala with the prefrontal circuits, we should ask, what is the primary cause of delusions: communication disorders between these regions or experience of harm? [13].…”

“…First of all, precisely determining which cognitive systems are mainly involved in the development of anomalous data (memory, improper reference to I, improper validation of objects and events, attentional disorder, etc.) is problematic [12,13]. On the other hand, finding a basis for the recognition of different data within the persecutory delusions (encompassed as multi-thematic) is also difficult [13].…”

“…is problematic [12,13]. On the other hand, finding a basis for the recognition of different data within the persecutory delusions (encompassed as multi-thematic) is also difficult [13]. As a partial remedy, the authors of the two-factor model proposed introducing psychological elements to the image of type A deficit, for example, by extending it, within the persecutory delusions, to include wrong motivational processes which determine the occurrence of, at least, social anxiety [13].…”

Moral cognition in schizophrenia

“…However, not all people with schizophrenia, including those who commit crimes, display delusional symptoms and/or marked thought disorder. Furthermore, whereas delusional beliefs are often persecutory and cause significant fear (Langdon, McKay, & Coltheart, 2008;Zolotova & Brüne, 2006), delusion-related violence can be disproportionate to the perceived threat. These findings suggest that some individuals with schizophrenia who commit delusion-triggered crimes show a difficulty with understanding that their action was morally wrong -a difficulty that is not fully explained by the presence of delusions and/or other positive symptoms, including gross thought disorder.…”

The Cognitive Approach to Delusions: Opportunities and Perspectives

“…Также были получены свидетельства в пользу того, что наличию второго фактора сопутствуют повреждения лате-ральной части префронтальной коры в правом полушарии [Coltheart 2007;Coltheart at al. 2010;Coltheart et al 2007;Langdon et al 2008].…”