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Sensible Hypothesis Testing in Deluded, Depressed and Normal Subjects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Richard P. Bentall  and
Heather F. Young
Richard P. Bentall*
Affiliation:
University of Liverpool
Heather F. Young
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, Reaside Clinic, Bristol Road South, Rubery, Birmingham B45 9BE
*
Professor P. Bentall, Department of Clinical Psychology, Whelan Building, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX
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Abstract

Background

Previous research has indicated that deluded patients may experience difficulties when testing hypotheses. In this study, hypothesis-testing strategies were assessed in patients with persecutory delusions, depressed patients and normal controls.

Method

Subjects were presented problem items describing typical everyday situations with either positive or negative outcomes and were required to choose strategies to prove that one of three variables was responsible for the outcomes.

Results

Consistent with previous research into sensible reasoning, subjects chose to manipulate the variable hypothesised to be responsible for the outcome (disconfirmation strategy) more when the outcome was negative than when it was positive, and chose to manipulate the remaining variables (confirmation strategy) more when the outcome was positive. No group differences were observed.

Conclusions

No evidence was found of abnormal hypothesis-testing strategies in deluded patients.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 168 , Issue 3 , March 1996 , pp. 372 - 375
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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