The aim of the study was the analysis of the frequency of various traits of delusions and the search for smaller number of factors which create delusional beliefs by using the factor analysis. The cohort consisted of 100 patients with the diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia according to DSM-III who presented delusions at the time of evaluation. Author's Scale of Delusional Dimension which consisted of 34 items describing several traits of delusions, was used. Statistical elaboration of data allowed to point out following conclusions: 1. Analysis of the frequency of particular traits of delusions shows their high subjective variability in several patients, with the exception of features which indicate the deep conviction in truthful beliefs, and features indicating their influence of patient's behaviour. 2. Factor analysis revealed that all evaluated traits create 5 independent factors: I. engagement-eccentricity, II. certainty, III. influence on behaviour-extent, IV. range of influence, V. delusional construction. 3. Results show the complexity of the phenomenon of delusions and suggest further investigations especially with dynamic aspects.

Adult↗

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[Delusions as a multidimensional phenomenon].

The new scientific approach to the problem of delusions--the search for their internal structure, emerges in the literature. The aim of the study is both the presentation of self-constructed Scale of Delusional Dimensions, and the presentation of results obtained by the use of the that particular scale. The scale consists of seven subscales dealing with various dimensions of delusional thinking: conviction, preoccupation, coherence, objectivity, range, eccentricity, and the influence on behaviour. Each of the subscales includes five statements which describe the traits of delusions and their dimensions. One hundred paranoid schizophrenic patients were examined by the use of Scale and data were statistically analysed. The significant correlations between the features in each dimensions prove their independence from each other. It raises the conclusion that delusions are multidimensional phenomenon, i.e., they possess a complex structure. On this basis one may predict that each dimension may change independently in the course of disease and healing. It appeared that relatively low correlations exist between some features of delusions located in various dimensions, which allows to predict only the tendency to coupling of individual traits of delusions.

Delusions↗

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