Quickbite: Overvalued ideas: a lost concept?
The concept of the overvalued idea has been debated
by European psychopathologists for more than a century, and in
recent years there has been renewed interest in the concept,
particularly in the context of debates about the classification of
certain disorders as delusional or non-delusional.
DSM-5 defines an overvalued idea
as 'an unreasonable and sustained belief that is maintained
with less than delusional intensity', whereas some argue that
overvalued ideas are distinct from delusions and are present
in a range of disorders.
In this module we will look at the historical development of the
concept and outline the various theories proposed. We will then
apply these theories specifically to body dysmorphic disorder and
olfactory reference syndrome. By the end of the
module we hope you will have a better understanding of
the DSM-5 and 'Jasperian' definitions of the overvalued
idea, and be able to take both perspectives into account when
diagnosing and treating your patients.
Start the
module