title: A clinically based rule of thumb for classifying delusions.
abstract: Conventional psychodynamic treatment assumptions sometimes warned against direct confrontation of a patient's delusions because delusions were believed to serve defensive functions. Based in part on research findings some have recently asserted that it can be beneficial for the clinician to challenge a patient's delusional beliefs. Short-term positive results from such confrontations have been reported. I review clinical and research considerations that may aid the clinician in deciding when confrontation may be beneficial. I identify a class of delusions that are unlikely to respond to confrontation. Alternative clinical responses to this class are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08855, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walkup
mesh_terms: D001364:Awareness; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D003702:Delusions / Q000145:classification* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome