Re:behavior mod

Carrie,

You mentioned that the patient was "touched by an immortal," and that she believed her hair would fall out if it were washed. This is a bizarre delusion if she is North American or European, although Lindsey makes an excellent point that it may be culturally acceptable in certain restricted settings.

We need much more information to make an intelligible reply to your request. I am wondering why you tagged your post as "behavior mod."

A defining characteristic of delusional beliefs is that they are not amenable to rational dispute. Trying to convince the patient to wash her hair is a dead end. Have you tried any behavioral interventions? With what result? Such interventions need to be planned and implemented by someone with expertise in their use among schizophrenic or delusional patients, not a novice.

Staff working with this population need to have clear expectations about what is realistic. In my opinion, expecting much change from a psychologist's interventions in only six weeks is highly unrealistic.

I hope you can get appropriate supervision from someone familiar with the particular patient you are working with.

Wondering

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