The inferiority complex in paranoia readdressed: a study with the Implicit Association Test.
BACKGROUND
It has been theorised that patients with persecutory delusions display a lack of covert self-esteem (formerly termed the 'inferiority complex'), while at the same time displaying normal or even heightened levels of explicit self-esteem. However, the empirical basis for this assumption is inconsistent.


METHODS
In view of apparent shortcomings of prior studies to assess implicit self-esteem, the Implicit Association Test was utilised to readdress this theory. The Rosenberg scale served as an index of overt self-esteem. A total of 23 schizophrenic patients, 13 of whom showed current symptoms of persecutory delusions, participated in the study; 41 healthy and 14 depressed participants served as controls.


RESULTS
Schizophrenic patients showed decreased levels of both implicit and explicit self-esteem relative to healthy controls. In line with recent studies, patients with current ideas of persecutory delusions displayed greater explicit self-esteem than nonparanoid patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study lends partial support for the notion that persecutory delusions serve as a defence against low implicit self-esteem, although the explicit self-esteem of these patients is still lower than in normal participants. Apart from abnormalities of attributional style, which have been assumed to convert low into high self-esteem, the assumption that a 'feeling of personal significance' heightens self-esteem in paranoid schizophrenia deserves further consideration.
Moritz
Steffen
S
Universitätklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. moritz@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Werner
Ronny
R
von Collani
Gernot
G
D000328:Adult; D001244:Association; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003702:Delusions / Q000523:psychology; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D014936:Word Association Tests