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The characteristics of delusions: A cluster analysis of deluded subjects

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Summary

Using a group of 55 psychotic subjects, 11 belief characteristics of delusions were recently assessed. The present study describes a cluster analysis of these data to investigate whether subjects showing characteristic patterns of delusional experience form relatively distinct groups. Three sub-groups were generated, each of which was given a descriptive label: hebephrenic, paranoid and depressed. The characteristics of these groups are described, in terms of associations with measures of mental state and belief content.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, De Crespigny Park, 5 8 AF, London SE, UK

    P. A. Garety & D. R. Hemsley

  2. Department of Biometrics, Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, De Crespigny Park, 5 8 AF, London SE, UK

    B. S. Everitt

Authors
  1. P. A. Garety
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  2. B. S. Everitt
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  3. D. R. Hemsley
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Garety, P.A., Everitt, B.S. & Hemsley, D.R. The characteristics of delusions: A cluster analysis of deluded subjects. Eur Arch Psychiatr Neurol Sci 237, 112–114 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00382375

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00382375

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