Decoding Delusions: A Clinician's Guide to Working With Delusions and Other Extreme Beliefs - Softcover

Kate V. Hardy, Clin.Psych.D.; Douglas Turkington, M.D.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1615372954 ISBN 13: 9781615372959

Publisher: Amer Psychiatric Pub Inc, 2023

Synopsis

For the individuals experiencing them, delusions and strong beliefs can be profoundly distressing and extremely limiting to healthy living. They also present significant challenges to the mental health professionals working with these individuals—not least because there is not always consensus around what might be considered delusional.

For the first time, Decoding Delusions gathers the literature and treatment guidance materials related to delusions in one place to offer clinicians an up-to-date, culturally informed, and illustrated guide to managing the spectrum of delusions and other extreme beliefs encountered in daily practice.

In Part I, chapter authors define and assess delusions, examining the current research literature into their linguistic and cultural aspects, as well as the history of their treatment. Crucially, it also provides a lived-experience perspective.

Part II features the insights of a series of international experts on interventions—including third-wave cognitive-behavioral models such as compassion-focused therapy—for delusional presentations that include the following:

• Persecutory paranoia• Delusional jealousy• Erotomania• Capgras syndrome• Delusions of thought possession• Trauma as a pathway to delusions

Readers also will find a nuanced discussion of working with patients from Japanese backgrounds that will enhance their cultural competency and encourage them to think about extreme beliefs through a cultural lens.

In Part III, the chapter authors explore the management of delusions in specific settings. Examples include delusions in forensic settings and use of remote technologies such as Zoom and digital media for measurement-based care. Finally, live-action demonstrations of key clinical skills at work are provided through video clips.

Unlike any other resource currently available, Decoding Delusions proposes an approach that supports the exploration of extreme beliefs with the aim not only of distress reduction but also meaningful recovery.

About this title

About the Author

Kate V. Hardy, Clin.Psych.D., is Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, in Stanford, California.

Douglas Turkington, M.D., FRCPsych, is Professor of Psychosocial Psychiatry at Newcastle University and Consultant Psychiatrist at CNTW NHS Foundation Trust, St. Nicholas Hospital, in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

From the Back Cover

Often distressing and disruptive for the individuals experiencing them, delusions are also particularly challenging for mental health professionals working with these individuals—not least because of how intertwined they are with each patient's cultural experience and society as a whole. For the first time, a single volume gathers the literature and treatment guidance materials related to delusions in one place. Decoding Delusions offers clinicians an up-to-date, culturally informed, and illustrated guide to managing the full range of delusions and other extreme beliefs encountered in daily practice.

More than 20 international authors lend their expert insights on a range of interventions for delusional presentations that include persecutory paranoia, erotomania, Capgras syndrome, and delusions of thought possession. Links to video clips help bring these treatment modalities to life and demonstrate key skills. Readers will also benefit from nuanced discussions on working with patients from diverse backgrounds, coming away with enhanced cultural competency.

Beyond aiming merely for distress reduction, this volume traces a path toward more effective practice for professionals as well as meaningful recovery for patients.

Edition details

• Publisher: Amer Psychiatric Pub Inc
• Publication date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1615372954
• ISBN 13: 9781615372959
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 414
• Editor: Hardy Kate V., Turkington Douglas M.d.