Treatment of stable delusional confabulations using self-monitoring training

Abstract

In the present study Self-Monitoring Training (SMT) was utilised to treat a patient, WF, who had suffered subarachnoid haemorrhages after which he developed delusional confabulations which had remained stable for over 6 years. It was predicted that WF's dysexecutive difficulties would be associated with poor self-monitoring skills and SMT would result in a reduction in the expression of his delusional confabulations. Both predictions were confirmed and the improvement in WF's delusional confabulations was maintained at a 3-month follow up and found to generalise to everyday settings. These results suggest that SMT may be an efficacious treatment not only for behaviour problems following acquired brain injury but also for delusional confabulations. The possible mechanisms to account for these findings are discussed.