Anatomy of Delusion

There exist a plethora of definitions to the concept of delusion. Some are quite general, some more specific and some more in-depth. Yet, it is accepted that preventing or curing delusional thinking has not yet acquired a tactical procedure or approach. What this ostensibly means is that the essence of any bona fide delusion is simply not understood by the vast majority of theoretical and/or practicing clinicians. It means that historically, the trigger, the motive and the psychic arrangement of forces of the phenomenon defined as delusion have been elusive.

About the Author :
Henry Kellerman, psychologist/psychoanalyst, is the author and editor of more than 20 books. He has held professorial and clinical staff positions at several universities and hospitals and was the director of the Columbia University Press book series - Personality, Psychopathology, and Psychotherapy: Theoretical and Clinical Perspectives. His psychology book for the reading public, entitled The 4 Steps to Peace of Mind: The Simple Effective Way to Cure Our Emotional Symptoms, is the first of its kind to present a blueprint that a person can follow to cure their own emotional symptom. Dr. Kellerman is a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology and Psychoanalysis of The American Board of Professional Psychology. He maintains a private psychotherapy practice in New York City.

Review :
A delusion is a belief held with strong conviction despite superior evidence to the contrary. As a pathology, it is distinct from a belief based on false or incomplete information, confabulation, dogma, illusion, or other effects of perception. Delusions typically occur in the context of neurological or mental illness, although they are not tied to any particular disease and have been found to occur in the context of many pathological states (both physical and mental). However, they are of particular diagnostic importance in psychotic disorders including schizophrenia, paraphrenia, manic episodes of bipolar disorder, and psychotic depression. Yet, it is accepted that preventing or curing delusional thinking has not yet acquired a tactical procedure or approach. What this ostensibly means is that the essence of any bona fide delusion is simply not understood by the vast majority of theoretical and/or practicing clinicians. It means that historically, the trigger, the motive, and the psychic arrangement of forces of the phenomenon defined as delusion have been elusive. Anatomy of Delusion by psychologist and psychoanalyst Henry Kellerman explores what a delusion is, then provides an analytical and descriptive explanation of firsthand modalities of treatment for this mental disorder. Of special note are the illustrative case histories cited. Extraordinarily well written, organized and presented, Anatomy of Delusion is informed and informative reading, making it highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Psychology/Psychotherapy/Counseling reference collections and supplemental-studies reading lists. --The Midwest Book Review May 2015