The accepted definition of delusions does not effectively separate clinical from non-clinical phenomena

ABSTRACT

The DSM-5 and other psychiatric texts define delusions as fixed beliefs that are unamenable to change. However, many fixed beliefs are considered culturally or socially normative, and may even serve an important function in unifying groups and communities. The clinical definition of delusions does not take into account the potential social function of fixed beliefs, which may be a key factor in distinguishing fixed beliefs that are beneficial from those that are pathological. This article proposes that including a social dimension in our definition and understanding of delusions may facilitate clinical distinctions between normative fixed beliefs and clinically relevant delusions.

KEYWORDS:

• Fixed beliefs
• philosophical issues
• delusions
• diagnosis

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Hans Oh, Jason Schiffman, and Lawrence Yang for their helpful comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).