Psychic embedding — vision and delusion

The paper introduces the idea that the human brain may apply complex mathematical modules in order to process and understand the world. We speculate that the substrate of what appears outwardly as intuition, or prophetic power, may be a mathematical apparatus such as time-delay embedding. In this context, predictive accuracy may be the reflection of an appropriate choice of the embedding parameters. We further put this in the perspective of mental illness, and search for the possible differences between good intuition and delusive ideation. We speculate that the task at which delusional schizophrenic patients falter is not necessarily of perception, but rather of model selection. Failure of the psychotic patient to correctly choose the embedding parameters may readily lead to misinterpretation of an accurate perception through an altered reconstructed of the object perceived

Was Jesus Mad, Bad, or God?... Or Merely Mistaken?

Reprinted in Oxford Readings in Philosophical Theology, Volume 1: Trinity, Incarnation, and Atonement, Oxford 2009, ed. Michael Rea. A popular argument for the divinity of Jesus goes like this. Jesus claimed to be divine, but if his claim was false, then either he was insane (mad) or lying (bad), both of which are very unlikely; so, he was divine. I present two objections to this argument. The first, the dwindling probabilities objection, contends that even if we make generous probability assignments to the relevant pieces of evidence for Jesus’ divinity, the probability calculus tell us to suspend judgement on the matter. The second, and more telling objection in my opinion, the merely mistaken objection, contends that it is no less plausible to suppose that Jesus was neither mad nor bad but merely mistaken than that he was divine

Developing a theory of the emotional impact of auditory hallucinations: an exploratory study

This research examines recent developments in the cognitive model of auditory hallucinations ("voices") in people with psychoses. Following the research of Chadwick and Birchwood (1994), data are presented on the behavioural, cognitive and affective responses to persistent voices of thirty participants with psychoses. After testing the reliability of their interview, data is then compared to that of the Chadwick and Birchwood (1994) sample. In addition, the research aimed to develop the cognitive model of the emotional impact of voices by examining further possible associations with participants' self-evaluations, hypothesising that these evaluations are associated with the affective response. The cognitive assessment of voices shows reasonable inter-rater and test re-test reliability. Compared to the Chadwick and Birchwood (1994) sample, the present sample had a greater proportion of negative affective responses to voices. regardless of their beliefs about the voices' benevolence or malevolence. Participants in this sample were less likely to endorse the voices' omnipotence or omniscience. Similarities were shown in behavioural responses and factors reported as proof of the voices' potential power. Although it was not possible to explore the associations between the content of voices, affective responses, self-evaluations and distress due to a preponderance of negative affective responses in this sample, nevertheless, it was possible to describe these responses. Participants in this sample had a predominantly negative content to their voices. Those who were able to access a personal meaning were found to have, predominantly, negative personal meanings, low self esteem and moderate distress as measured by standardised instruments

Integration and Consensus: A Tentative Exploration

The dimensions of the topic at hand are of a scope known on occasion to induce giddiness of mind and delusions of omniscience among those who treat with such words as consensus and integration. Let us be warned; recognition of danger is the first stage of wisdom. It is necessary to severely limit our purview and to temper our aspirations. Established knowledge in this complex and elusive area of concern is scanty. Firm data are perhaps lass conspicuous than firm opinions. Ideological convictions often are easier to come by than precise and valid evidence. The immediate moral is to expect something less than definitive knowledge, but to take the topic very seriously indeed, in the reasonable hope that some clarification may be achieved

Integration and Consensus: A Tentative Exploration

The dimensions of the topic at hand are of a scope known on occasion to induce giddiness of mind and delusions of omniscience among those who treat with such words as consensus and integration. Let us be warned; recognition of danger is the first stage of wisdom. It is necessary to severely limit our purview and to temper our aspirations. Established knowledge in this complex and elusive area of concern is scanty. Firm data are perhaps lass conspicuous than firm opinions. Ideological convictions often are easier to come by than precise and valid evidence. The immediate moral is to expect something less than definitive knowledge, but to take the topic very seriously indeed, in the reasonable hope that some clarification may be achieved

A multi-centre, randomised controlled trial of cognitive therapy to prevent harmful compliance with command hallucinations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Command hallucinations are among the most distressing, high risk and treatment resistant symptoms for people with psychosis; however, currently, there are no evidence-based treatment options available for this group. A cognitive therapy grounded in the principles of the Social Rank Theory, is being evaluated in terms of its effectiveness in reducing harmful compliance with command hallucinations.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This is a single blind, intention-to-treat, multi-centre, randomized controlled trial comparing Cognitive Therapy for Command Hallucinations + Treatment as Usual with Treatment as Usual alone. Eligible participants have to fulfil the following inclusion criteria: i) ≥16 years; ii) ICD-10 diagnosis of schizophrenia or related disorder; iii) command hallucinations for at least 6 months leading to risk of harm to self or others. Following the completion of baseline assessments, eligible participants will be randomly allocated to either the Cognitive Therapy for Command Hallucinations + Treatment as Usual group or the Treatment as Usual group. Outcome will be assessed at 9 and 18 months post randomization with assessors blind to treatment allocation. The primary outcome is compliance behaviour and secondary outcomes include beliefs about voices' power, distress, psychotic symptoms together with a health economic evaluation. Qualitative interviews with services users will explore the acceptability of Cognitive Therapy for Command Hallucinations.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Cognitive behaviour therapy is recommended for people with psychosis; however, its focus and evaluation has primarily revolved around the reduction of psychotic symptoms. In this trial, however, the focus of the cognitive behavioural intervention is on individuals' appraisals, behaviour and affect and not necessarily symptoms; this is also reflected in the outcome measures used. If successful, the results will mark a significant breakthrough in the evidence base for service users and clinicians and will provide a treatment option for this group where none currently exist. The trial will open the way for further breakthrough work with the 'high risk' population of individuals with psychosis, which we would intend to pursue.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ISRCTN: <a href="http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN62304114">ISRCTN62304114</a></p

The Laws of Thought

The Laws of Thought is an exploration of the deductive and inductive foundations of rational thought. The author here clarifies and defends Aristotle’s Three Laws of Thought, called the Laws of Identity, Non-contradiction and Exclusion of the Middle – and introduces two more, which are implicit in and crucial to them: the Fourth Law of Thought, called the Principle of Induction, and the Fifth Law of Thought, called the Principle of Deduction. This book is a thematic compilation drawn from past works by the author over a period of twenty-three years (1990-2013)