ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that indicates the emotion (anxiety, depression, anger, and elation) may have a direct role in the formation and maintenance of delusions. The behaviour imposed by illness is 'understandable' as an exaggeration of ordinary emotional reactivity. Single-cause research strategies have also inhibited consideration of the role of emotion in psychosis. Direct theories hypothesise that emotion has a direct role in the development of delusions and hallucinations. The presence of emotional disturbance has received greater attention in the prodromal phase of psychosis. Numerous studies have reported emotional disturbance preceding and accompanying delusions and hallucinations. The findings are consistent with emotion playing both a causal and maintaining role in many cases of delusions and hallucinations. The content of delusional beliefs can therefore provide evidence as to whether emotion has a contributory role in their development.
