Presentation Information
[SY-104-02]Why has delusion not been defined independet of contexts?
From the viewpoint of Japanese psychopathology
*Tsutomu Kumazaki (Toranomon Hospital(Japan))
Keywords:
persecutory delusion,psychopathology,diagnosis
Delusion has long stood as a central symptom in psychiatric diagnosis; however, its definition remains elusive.
To begin with, this presentation offers a brief review of historical and contemporary efforts to conceptualize delusions,
highlighting contributions from pre-modern cultural observations to seminal works by psychiatrists such as Jaspers,
K. Schneider, and M. Spitzer. Despite these endeavors, the definition of delusion continues to rely on folk-psychological
and commonsense judgments, introducing a degree of indeterminacy.
Focusing specifically on persecutory delusions and analogous anomalous judgments, the discussion then examines the challenges
in distinguishing delusional from non-delusional thoughts, particularly within varying cultural contexts.
This leads to an exploration of how sociocultural conditions influence the formation and interpretation of delusions,
drawing upon studies by Japanese psychopathologists. These investigations underscore the importance of cautious and detailed
sociocultural consideration in the analysis of delusional phenomena.
In conclusion, the presentation argues that in our increasingly interconnected world, where sociocultural boundaries are fluid,
incorporating cultural sensitivity into the understanding and diagnosis of delusions is not only beneficial but essential.
To begin with, this presentation offers a brief review of historical and contemporary efforts to conceptualize delusions,
highlighting contributions from pre-modern cultural observations to seminal works by psychiatrists such as Jaspers,
K. Schneider, and M. Spitzer. Despite these endeavors, the definition of delusion continues to rely on folk-psychological
and commonsense judgments, introducing a degree of indeterminacy.
Focusing specifically on persecutory delusions and analogous anomalous judgments, the discussion then examines the challenges
in distinguishing delusional from non-delusional thoughts, particularly within varying cultural contexts.
This leads to an exploration of how sociocultural conditions influence the formation and interpretation of delusions,
drawing upon studies by Japanese psychopathologists. These investigations underscore the importance of cautious and detailed
sociocultural consideration in the analysis of delusional phenomena.
In conclusion, the presentation argues that in our increasingly interconnected world, where sociocultural boundaries are fluid,
incorporating cultural sensitivity into the understanding and diagnosis of delusions is not only beneficial but essential.