 |
| Research article summary (published 30 Dec 1977): |
The messianic idea and messianic delusion.
Full Abstract
The messianic delusional syndrome repeats an historical prototype that manifests itself in each patient with individual changes. The syndrome expresses a serious impairment of identity and reflects a social, cultural and religious reality through generations. The regularities of its clinical features comprise a delusional system, centered on the patient's conviction that he has been chosen by God for a special and intransferable mission. The patient has special powers for carrying out this mission. He is a savior and announces resurrection. His delusions have a clear symbolic character. For the patient's social group, the messianic idea is an attempt at annulling the effect of oppression or persecution that have become unbearable for the individual. They represent a flight from the human sphere and an attempt to be God. The patient's behavior is in consonance with this purpose; it expresses itself, on the one hand, through preaching repentance and compassion and, on the other hand, the patient gives up his earthly links and replaces them by parental relations with God. In the above-mentioned context, the author analyzes the different elements of the religious conception in the Christian, Moslem and Jewish religions, and the way each of them expresses itself in the general symptomatology.
Author information
Author/s: Perez, L (L);
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article
Journal: Mental health and society (Ment Health Soc), published in SWITZERLAND. (Language: eng)
Reference: 1978-; vol 5 (issue 5-6) : pp 266-74
Dates: Created 1981/05/13; Completed 1981/05/13; Revised 2004/11/17;
PMID: 95508, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):
Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.
This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.
MeSH headings (categories)
This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.
Related articles
These are the highest related articles currently in the database:
- Symptoms of offensive type Taijin-Kyofusho among Australian social phobics.
30 Dec 2007 - Physician observations and perceptions of positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia: a multinational, cross-sectional survey. 21 May 2007
- Psychosis or faith? Clinicians' assessment of religious beliefs. 30 Jul 2005
- Frequency and severity of religious delusions in Christian patients with psychosis. 3 Aug 2001
- A polydiagnostic approach to the differences in the symptoms of schizophrenia in different cultural and ethnic populations. 29 Jun 1998
- Transcultural study of schizophrenic delusions. Tokyo versus Vienna and Tübingen (Germany). 30 Dec 1997
- Erotomanic symptoms in 42 Chinese schizophrenic patients. 29 Sep 1996
- Organic delusional disorder in psychiatric in-patients: comparison with delusional disorder. 30 Jan 1997
- [Psychometric properties of PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) in the French version in a sample of schizophrenic patients] 30 Dec 1996
- Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms related to psychosis and acute involuntary hospitalization in schizophrenic and delusional patients. 30 May 1999
Related Article Map
9/29/1996
12/30/2007
Higher Relevance Score (12)
Lower Relevance Score (10)
Legend: 
- FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. 
- Title only. More help.
See a large map of 100+ related articles.