Influence of culture on the world end (apocalyptic) delusions

Abstract

This article attempts to explore the genesis of the world’s end (Apocalyptic) delusions. Religious ideas of the world end given in the Sacred Scripture is found in the content of delusions but is added with inclusion of modern signs and description of the apocalypse, produced in delusional thinking of contemporary patients suffering from schizophrenia and related disorders. 295 patients suffering from schizophrenia participated in this study at the Vilnius Mental Health Center in Lithuania, among whom 69.8% reported apocalyptic delusional themes (lifetime-prevalence), both religious and culture-sensitive. Investigation of the influence of personal importance of their religious beliefs on the content of (Apocalyptic) delusions is made. We conclude that schizophrenia patients for whom their faith is of personal importance feel the coming end of the world more often than those for whom it is not. There is no significant difference found between gender or age factor on the development of the world end (Apocalyptic) delusions.