Is it divine revelation or is it delusion.
On another thread, member Scott C. claimed that there are "drastic differences" between a delusion and a divine revelation. When asked about these differences the reply was delusions are somewhat predictable and cause negative actions but divine revelation causes positive results.
Of course, that answer is unsatisfactory because delusions can cause positive results and aren't always predictable. (The placebo effect and the initial delusions before a clinical diagnosis is provided in the case of a mental disorder demonstrates these truths).
In the case of famous and influential mathematician John Nash, his ability to determine what was real and what was delusion allowed him to take back control of his life and fight a "good fight" against his mental illness. His ability to discern between delusion and reality brought him "back from the brink" of certain personal doom.
But what if he wrong and he was receiving divine revelations through visions from God? How can we (could he) be certain that he was dealing with delusion instead of divine revelation?
In the case of Abraham, who the bible describes as having "great faith," received a "divine revelation" that he should kill his son with a knife on s mountain. Certainly most people would consider that message to be a harmful delusion, today. But how could the believer of divine revelation be sure?
What if such an act would prove the person as "having the faith of Abraham" and worthy of God's blessing through the establishment of an entire nation whose numbers would be greater than the sands on the sea shore sync the stars in the sky.
Id assume when an EEG is done to two patients one with divine revelations the other dellusional/mental illness, the EEG would show that the former has no significant EEG spikes outside normal thinking.
While the EEG results of the latter will have significant spikes doctors may interpret as mental illness.
This is assuming doctors can tell the difference between the results of an DR and Dellusioned tests.
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Here is something else to think. I have Epilepsy/Seizure Disorder. My body contorts. I loose consciousness. I can die at its worst.
Person B has the same symptoms but accordinf to the EEG the doctors see no Seizure activity when they induce a seizure on person B.
We both take medications. The affects of the meds are positive. We dont seize.
Mine is neurological, person B is psychological. Its call psychomotor seizures. He sees a neuropsychiatrist as well as a nuerologist. I see an epileptologist. Neuologist specialized in epilepsy.
To compare:
The DR is me. The Dellusion is person B. EDIT
The EEG for both is normal but we take different medications for the same symptoms.
I assume there is an EEG difference between DR EEG and a Dellusioned EEG even though they have the same "symptoms". I only see it as an issue if either person does something or cant function. Other than that:
** To answer your question, you could do what Been says look at the CCC. That wouls give you a sense of comparison to the DSM qualifications for specific dellusion disorders.
** You can compare EEG results and see the differences in the spike.
You cant tell by looking and listening to a person. Remember, Person B and I have the same symptoms but him psychological and mine neurological.
Best I can think of.