Developing hypnotic analogues of clinical delusions: mirrored-self misidentification.
BACKGROUND
Despite current research interest in delusional beliefs, there are no viable models for studying delusions in the laboratory. However, hypnosis offers a technique for creating transient delusions that are resistant to challenge. The aim of this study was to develop an hypnotic analogue of one important delusion, mirrored-self misidentification.


METHODS
Twelve high hypnotisable participants received an hypnotic suggestion to see either a stranger in the mirror, a mirror as a window, or a mirror as a window with a view to a stranger. Participants' deluded beliefs were challenged, and following hypnosis, Sheehan and McConkey's (1982) Experiential Analysis Technique was used to explore participants' phenomenological experience of the delusion.


RESULTS
The majority of participants did not recognise their reflection in the mirror, described the person in the mirror as having different physical characteristics to themselves, and maintained their delusion when challenged.


CONCLUSIONS
The hypnotic suggestion created a credible, compelling delusion with features strikingly similar to clinical cases of mirrored-self misidentification. Our findings suggest that Factor 2 within Langdon and Coltheart's (2000) two-factor framework may involve a lowering of the criteria used to accept or reject delusional hypotheses.
Barnier
Amanda J
AJ
Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. abarnier@maccs.mq.edu.au
Cox
Rochelle E
RE
O'Connor
Akira
A
Coltheart
Max
M
Langdon
Robyn
R
Breen
Nora
N
Turner
Martha
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003702:Delusions / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis; D007062:Identification, Psychological; D008297:Male; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012649:Self Concept; D055815:Young Adult