Skip to main content
. 2006 Jan;3(1):56–61.

Table 3.

Therapeutic responses to delusions

  • Express mild questioning or skepticism

  • If patient has any doubts whatsoever, begin to confront the delusion and to explore its formation

  • If patient becomes non-delusional, further explore the process of delusional formation and possibly interpret content

  • Offer consensual validation for elements of reality in the delusion

  • Interpret the delusion as “poetic truth”

From Novalis PN, Peele R, Rojcewicz SJ. Clinical Manual of Supportive Psychotherapy. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press, Inc., 1993:139.