Persecutory Delusions: A False, Meaningless Pathology? A critique of the use of psychopathological conceptualisations of paranoia in Counselling Psychology practice

Rachel Osborne

Persecutory Delusions: A False, Meaningless Pathology? A critique of the use of psychopathological conceptualisations of paranoia in Counselling Psychology practice

Authors

Rachel Osborne Author

Keywords:

Psychopathology, paranoia, persecutory delusions, existential phenomenological approach, counselling psychology

Abstract

This article critically explores the assumptive frameworks underpinning current psychopathological conceptualisations of paranoid/persecutory delusions, which position such experiences as false and meaningless phenomena. An existential-phenomenological reconceptualisation is provided as an alternative formulation that allows for recapturing the contextual, relational and subjective nuances in theoretical understanding and therapeutic practice.