Persecutory Delusions: Assessment, Theory and Treatment

Paranoia is the fear that others intend to cause you harm. It occurs most dramatically as delusions of persecution in conditions such as schizophrenia, but it is related to suspicious thoughts that occur in some 10-20% of the general population. Typical concerns might be that people are trying to harm you, saying bad things behind your back, deliberately irritating you, or conspiring against you. It is one of the most significant psychiatric problems, and increasingly, researchers and clinicians have begun to focus on understanding paranoid experience.

In this landmark publication, the three major authorities in the field bring together the current knowledge about the assessment, understanding, and treatment of persecutory delusions. Leading experts in cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, psychiatry, social psychiatry, neuroimaging, and neuroscience explain their perspectives on paranoia. Pharmacological, cognitive, and family interventions are comprehensively reviewed, and personal accounts of paranoia are included.

Daniel Freeman is a Wellcome Trust Fellow at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, and a consultant clinical psychologist in the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust. He publishes prolifically in the leading international journals, makes regular keynote addresses at international conferences, and is an Associate Editor of the British Journal of Clinical Psychology. He studied natural sciences at Cambridge University, specialising in experimental psychology, and has completed doctorates in psychology and clinical psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London. He is the lead author of Overcoming Paranoid and Suspicious Thoughts, the first self-help book for people affected by suspicious thoughts, and has recently written a popular science book on paranoia, Paranoia: The 21st Century Fear Richard Bentall attended the University College of North Wales, Bangor as an undergraduate (1975-9) before taking a Ph.D. in experimental psychology at the same institution (awarded 1983). Moved to the University of Liverpool to obtain a qualification in clinical psychology (1984) before later achieving a part-time MA in philosophy applied to health care from University of Wales, Swansea (1989). Returned to Liverpool to work as a lecturer (1986) after a brief stint working for the National Health Service as a forensic clinical psychologist (1984-1986). Was appointed professor at Liverpool (1994) before moving to the University of Manchester (1999) and then returning to the University of Bangor (2007). Research interests include psychological processes involved in psychotic symptoms (e.g. hallucinations and delusions) and the psychological treatment of severe mental illness. Philippa Garety studied Philosophy and Psychology (Natural Sciences) at Cambridge University in the 1970s, then undertook clinical psychology training at the Institute of Psychiatry, London, followed by a PhD. Since then she has combined clinical practice in the NHS with research. Her main focus of research has been the investigation of cognitive processes in psychosis, particularly reasoning and affective processes in delusions, together with the development of psychological treatments, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). She is interested in translating the findings of theoretical and empirical research into improvements in treatments and service provision. Her current post is as Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College, London and Head of Psychology for the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.