| Abstrakt: |
Abstract: According to dimensional model of mental disorders paranoia represents a construct across the normal - pathological continuum. Persecutory delusions, as a symptom of many mental disorders, can be considered an extremely expressed end of the paranoid continuum. In general, the literature provides several theories which, to different degrees, emphasize the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms responsible for the formation and maintenance of paranoid symptomatology and persecutory delusions. The aim of the paper is to describe and explain the current theoretical concepts of paranoia and persecutory delusions, with an emphasis on psychological mechanisms contributing to their formation and maintenance. In Bentall’s concept, it is proposed that paranoia is a psychological defense against low self-esteem. Cognitive model of Freeman and Garety, however, suggested low self-esteem to be just one of many factors involved in the occurrence of paranoia. Models are compared and confronted with current empirical evidence. Implications for clinical practice are discussed. |
