Borderline (Psychology Revivals): A Psychological Study of Paranoia and Delusional Thinking

Originally published in 1992, Borderline presents a unique study of the disturbed mind. Professional psychologist Peter Chadwick draws upon his own personal experience of madness to provide a valuable exploration of the psychology of paranoia and schizophrenia. The book goes beyond a narrowly focused analytical approach to examine schizophrenia from as many perspectives as possible. Using participant observation, introspection, case study and experimental methods, Chadwick shows how paranoid and delusional thinking are only exaggerations of processes to be found in normal cognition. Impressed by the similarities between the thinking of mystics and psychotics, he argues that some forms of madness are closely related to profound mystical experience and intuition, but that these are expressed in a distorted form in the psychotic mind. He explores the many positive characteristics and capabilities of paranoid patients, providing a sympathetic account which balances the heavily negative constructions usually put on paranoia in the research literature. Borderline provides many novel insights into madness and raises important questions as to how psychosis and psychotics are to be evaluated. It will be essential reading for all practising professionals and students in clinical psychology and psychiatry, and for everyone involved in the treatment, understanding and management of schizophrenia.

Table of Contents:
Preface. 1 Introduction: Thinking in Science, Sex and Madness 2 An Introduction to the Case Studies and the Case of David B: ‘Erratica and Erotica’ 3 Shafiq: ‘The Greatest Man in the World?’ 4 Mysticism, Delusion and the Paranormal 5 The Route to Hell and Back 6 Alana J: ‘I’m Dancing as Fast as I Must’ 7 Chris: ‘Out of this World 8 Alison: ‘I’m Waiting’ 9 Overview and Reflections on the Case Studies 10 The Experimental Study: The Theories and How they were Tested 11 The Experimental Study: Results and Analyses 12 Implications for Therapy 13 Conclusions and General Discussion. Notes. Bibliography. Name Index. Subject Index.