Comorbid Major Mental Disorders

doi:10.1017/9781009280099.010

Chapter 9 - Comorbid Major Mental Disorders

from Section 2 - Confounding Factors and Special Populations

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 June 2025

Ashley H. VanDercar ,

Ren Belcher and

Susan Hatters Friedman

Edited by

Paul Whitehead and

Tyler Durns: Affiliation:
University of Utah
Charles Scott: Affiliation:
University of California, Davis
Paul Whitehead: Affiliation:
University of Utah
Barbara E. McDermott: Affiliation:
University of California, Davis

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Summary

Research into serious mental illness is limited in both cult leaders and followers. Problematically, extant data is often biased: leaders tend to only be evaluated when they attempt to plead insanity after they are charged with criminal acts, and followers may only be evaluated when leaving the cult. Major mental disorders appear to be less common in cult leaders than are personality disorders and substance use disorders. When completing evaluations of cult leaders, it is important to consider whether a delusional sounding belief is, instead instrumental, and being put forth as a form of manipulation. Another critical consideration, in either cult leaders or followers, is whether a belief – even if firmly held – is truly delusional, or whether it is a part of the subculture’s belief system. This chapter details various characteristics which may be more common among followers; however, these are difficult to quantify as both the presence in and leaving of the cult confound the presentation of those symptoms.

Keywords

cult psychiatry cult mental health mental illness in cults cult leaders cult followers subcultural beliefs brainwashing in cults cult evaluations personality disorders in cults forensic psychiatry

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: A Clinical and Forensic Guide to Cults and Persuasive Leadership , pp. 153 - 169

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009280099.010 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2025

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