Idée fixe (psychology)

An obsession (Latin fixa idea " immutable idea" ), also known as overvalued idea is a symptom in the field of clinical psychology and psychiatry.

The German term was already a technical term in psychiatry in the late 18th century circulation.

Overvalued ideas are a serious thought disorder that is similar delusions, but not so pronounced I - syntonic and unchangeable (of course ) is like this. Frequently go overvalued ideas with other thought disorder accompanied (eg, perseveration ) and can have severe abnormalities of social relations result. According to some authors is a misconception that is no correction available and is the result of a monomania. However, for Hagen, the concept of obsession is not necessarily bound to it that the idea is factually incorrect. This is more of the important property of fixed delusion or delusion. For Hagen the essence of the fixed idea is rather that it is " obsessive thoughts ":

"Under a fixed idea, I mean, in distinction from a fixed delusion, or of the delusion (at which the falsity of the idea of the applied to the explanation of the circumstances thought, the main thing is ), an idea which dominates the individual continued to same constantly imposes, it may now be a true or not. A Melancholic thinks, for example, always remember and it whines show to others that they would not have to marry for the second time - where they can have all right, but while the power which carries this thought on their entire Gemüths - and will- Constitution morbid nature. In general, however, now this compulsive thinking is fulfilled in the insane by a false content, its Product and Object delusions ". ( Hagen, p 25)

In a craze all thoughts focus on a core issue. Aside from those affected think otherwise logically so that they are held to be reasonable when the critical region is not affected.