Paranoid Syndrome and its Relation to Axial Dispo-sitions

Overview

Paranoid syndrome belongs to basic psychopathological syndromes and pa-ranoid delusion to basic psychopathological symptoms. From the view pointof psychopathological research only little attention is focused on these fun-damental topics in psychiatry. Paranoid states represent one of the mostimportant theoretical problems; therefore only systematic psychopathologi-cal research can head to a better understanding of its origin and develop-ment. There is no doubt about the great importance of the works of classicalpsychiatrists, nevertheless the integrated approach of the Vienna researchgroup to paranoid conditions can be useful. A concept of this group discussesinterrelations between syndromes on the vertical axis where the syndromesare listed hierarchically according to their nosological specificity. This con-ception points out the participation of hidden axial dispositions in the com-plex pathogenetic processes and permits to explain many clinicalexperiences. It is possible, that an efficient method which help to describeempirical clinical observations on scientific basis will be developed.

Key words:
paranoid syndrome, axial syndromes, paranoid states, Viennaresearch group.