Psychopathology and Operational Definition of Signs and Symptoms in Present Forensic Psychiatry: A Second Look

Abstract

Jaspers regarded a delusion as a perverted view of reality that is incorrigibly held. According to him, delusions have three components: They are held with unusual conviction, and are not amenable to logic; meanwhile the absurdity or erroneousness of their content is manifest to other people. While Norman Cameron’s pseudo-community, a supposed community of conspirators, was a historical description about conditions that favor the development of delusional disorders, modern technology and advancement of new communicative tools, like smart phone, hidden camera, satellite, internet, stealthy or scheming tricks and setups, like double-crossing and masquerading scenarios, stressful circumstances, furtive or hectic arrangements, creating a scene to deceive, hack, or tampering, have brought about an increasing possibility of conspiracy by prejudiced or inimical people, which may amplify the conceivable diagnostic faults by more curbing of examiner’s vigilance. On the other hand, it is the duty of forensic and clinical psychiatrist to discover any kind of deceptive entrapment or simulation. In the present article, such eccentricities, which may have come about in new time, have been discussed briefly, especially with respect to Paranoia and Paranoid ideation, and some solutions for better demarcation of the pertained problems and completion of psychopathological operational definitions have been suggested, incidentally, for defending the individuals’ civil rights.