Persecutory delusions and attributions for real negative events: A study in a forensic sample

Abstract

It has been proposed that individuals with persecutory delusions make excessive external attributions of cause for negative events. It remains unclear from empirical research findings whether the externalising bias is also common to other psychotic symptom presentations. Patterns of attribution of blame for offending in a sample of mentally disordered offenders with different symptom presentations were analysed retrospectively from case notes. Attributions were assessed using the Gudjonsson Blame Attribution Inventory - Revised. External attribution scores were higher in individuals with psychotic symptom presentations compared with non-psychotic disorders. A comparison between those presenting with persecutory delusions and non-persecutory psychosis revealed no significant difference in external attribution scores. An external attributional style is present in individuals with psychosis, but is not specific to persecutory delusions. There is no special role for attributional style in persecutory delusions.