PubHawk
July 2014 PMID 24379014

Psychological characteristics of religious delusions.

Robel Iyassu, Suzanne Jolley, Paul Bebbington, Graham Dunn, Richard Emsley, Daniel Freeman, David Fowler, Amy Hardy, Helen Waller, Elizabeth Kuipers, Philippa Garety

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Mentions

21
Peak: 2 in Aug 2022
across 4 sources since Aug 2019

Extended reach

218,686
potential audience

Total likes

3,764

Video views

149,379

Mentions per month

Aug 2019 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter15 posts
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Facebook2 posts
  • Blogs2 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The social discussions reflect a recognition of the research's findings, such as high levels of grandiosity and anomalous experiences, and show an interest in how these features impact treatment, with some participants emphasizing the difficulty of managing these symptoms, highlighting the importance of empirical evidence.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the difficulty in treating religious delusions, supported by direct quotes like 'Religious delusions are common and are considered to be particularly difficult to treat.'

InterestModerate interest

Participants show moderate interest, with some expressing a desire for empirical evidence and engaging with the study findings.

EngagementModerate engagement

Comments range from brief assertions to more detailed reflections, indicating a moderate level of thoughtful engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

The recurring mention of treatment challenges and symptom severity suggests these discussions reinforce the significance of understanding religious delusions in mental health contexts.

Abstract in brief

  • Religious delusions are common and challenging to treat, often involving specific psychological processes related to perception, cognition, emotion, and behavior that help maintain these delusions.
  • People with religious delusions tend to exhibit higher levels of grandiosity, passivity experiences, internal evidence for their beliefs, and anomalous experiences, but they show lower levels of negative symptoms compared to other delusional groups.
  • Despite high emotional and perceptual symptoms, individuals with religious delusions are generally willing to consider alternatives and may respond well to cognitive-behavioral therapy, especially if treatment carefully respects their self-esteem and valued beliefs.]
Read the full abstract

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
A Proud Kāfir—Yẹmí.
@KR3Wmatic · X

Psychological characteristics of religious delusions. https://t.co/CQIjqc7WpR

Mar 2, 2023 · 12 likes · 34,800 followers View post →
jay
@HNeversleeps · X

@PastorJohnHagee "Psychological characteristics of religious delusions" https://t.co/ctaEivCCpO

Dec 22, 2020 · 2 likes · 2,707 followers View post →
pure_chutzpah
@Pure_Chutzpah · X

@ProfMKay I was reading a piece on ‘Psychological characteristics of religious delusions’ and trust me all the study said or concluded is that, ‘Religious delusions are common and are considered to be particularly difficult to treat.’ Basically there is no way around this schizophrenia.

Jan 4, 2020 · 1 like · 203 followers View post →
Geoffrey P. Johnston
@GeoffyPJohnston · X

@DrNice2022 @DrKozinski1973 @thereal_truther Psychological characteristics of religious delusions - PMC “Religious delusions are common and are considered to be particularly difficult to treat.” https://t.co/BM87v6jclZ

Dec 21, 2024 · 13,279 followers View post →
Geoffrey P. Johnston
@GeoffyPJohnston · X

@JohntheLyricist @DrKozinski1973 @thereal_truther Psychological characteristics of religious delusions - PMC “Religious delusions are common and are considered to be particularly difficult to treat.” https://t.co/BM87v6jclZ

Dec 21, 2024 · 13,279 followers View post →
Kay
@ExpelTheCrazies · X

@mjfree Psychosis. 25th Amendment material. "Psychological characteristics of religious delusions".

May 29, 2025 · 2,983 followers View post →

All mentions

Sasmitro Sumitro
@Sasmitrosumitro · X

Daftar Pustaka Bar-El, Y., Durst, R., Katz, G., Zislin, J., Strauss, Z., & Knobler, H. Y. (2000). Jerusalem syndrome. British Journal of Psychiatry, 176, 86-90. Iyassu, R., Jolley, S., Bebbington, P., & Garety, P. A. (2014). Psychological characteristics of religious delusions.

Sep 1, 2025 · 102 followers View post →
Kay
@ExpelTheCrazies · X

@mjfree Psychosis. 25th Amendment material. "Psychological characteristics of religious delusions".

May 29, 2025 · 2,983 followers View post →
Geoffrey P. Johnston
@GeoffyPJohnston · X

@DrNice2022 @DrKozinski1973 @thereal_truther Psychological characteristics of religious delusions - PMC “Religious delusions are common and are considered to be particularly difficult to treat.” https://t.co/BM87v6jclZ

Dec 21, 2024 · 13,279 followers View post →
Geoffrey P. Johnston
@GeoffyPJohnston · X

@JohntheLyricist @DrKozinski1973 @thereal_truther Psychological characteristics of religious delusions - PMC “Religious delusions are common and are considered to be particularly difficult to treat.” https://t.co/BM87v6jclZ

Dec 21, 2024 · 13,279 followers View post →
Megan Elizabeth Graham
@grahamemegan · X

Psychological characteristics of religious delusions - PMC https://t.co/MSsxav5MU8

Mar 20, 2024 · 299 followers View post →
Cherish Oconnor
@cherish_oc69940 · X

Psychological characteristics of religious delusions https://t.co/tJdZqfxT9H

Aug 26, 2023 · 12 followers View post →
A Proud Kāfir—Yẹmí.
@KR3Wmatic · X

Psychological characteristics of religious delusions. https://t.co/CQIjqc7WpR

Mar 2, 2023 · 12 likes · 34,800 followers View post →
anzola
@timeToThinkOf · X

@MarionS91783730 @William91520642 @IsabellaMDeLuca I prefer empirical evidence. “Psychological characteristics of religious delusions” —Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology The International Journal for Research in Social and Genetic Epidemiology and Mental Health Services https://t.co/HEZb7J3yy5

Aug 25, 2022 · 380 followers View post →
anzola
@timeToThinkOf · X

@RightWingWatch “Psychological characteristics of religious delusions” —Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology The International Journal for Research in Social and Genetic Epidemiology and Mental Health Services https://t.co/HEZb7IMvw5

Aug 25, 2022 · 380 followers View post →
anzola
@timeToThinkOf · X

@smerdon_bonnie @BluesRoyals @lifesafeast “Psychological characteristics of religious delusions” “Levels of positive symptoms, particularly anomalous experiences and grandiosity, were high, and may contribute to symptom persistence.” https://t.co/cQRrgbmRCu

Jun 26, 2022 · 380 followers View post →
SUMMER TIME
@summerhasfun · X

Psychological characteristics of religious delusions https://t.co/yeOZOrL39k

Sep 17, 2021 · 66 followers View post →
Dennis Lee
@DennisL73061433 · X

Iyassu R, Jolley S, Bebbington P, et al. Psychological characteristics of religious delusions. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2014;49:1051-1061.

Apr 23, 2021 · 26 followers View post →
jay
@HNeversleeps · X

@PastorJohnHagee "Psychological characteristics of religious delusions" https://t.co/ctaEivCCpO

Dec 22, 2020 · 2 likes · 2,707 followers View post →
pure_chutzpah
@Pure_Chutzpah · X

@ProfMKay I was reading a piece on ‘Psychological characteristics of religious delusions’ and trust me all the study said or concluded is that, ‘Religious delusions are common and are considered to be particularly difficult to treat.’ Basically there is no way around this schizophrenia.

Jan 4, 2020 · 1 like · 203 followers View post →
GirasoleGirl
@RafanelloB · X

Psychological characteristics of religious delusions~ People with #religiousdelusions have more severe symptoms and are harder to treat because they lack insight. https://t.co/t5PndGD43D

Aug 22, 2019 · 411 followers View post →