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Acting on delusion: a review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Alec Buchanan
Alec Buchanan*
Affiliation:
Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Alec Buchanan, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF.
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Synopsis

The paper reviews the link between delusional beliefs and behaviour. The literature pertaining to the link between normal beliefs and behaviour is briefly examined, emphasizing the predominance of psychological and philosophical contributions to the topic. The psychiatric literature describing actions consequent upon delusional beliefs is then reviewed. In conclusion, those aspects of psychosis, distinct from delusional beliefs themselves, which may affect the likelihood of a given belief being acted upon, are discussed.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , February 1993 , pp. 123 - 134
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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