Mental automatism and exogenous psychosis: the originality of De Clérambault’s and Karl Bonhoeffer’s theories in substance-related psychoses
Frontiers in Psychiatry January 30, 2025 Valerio Ricci, Alessandro Sarni, Giuseppe Maina
The relationship between substance use and psychosis has been debated for centuries. This paper examines substance-induced psychotic disorder (SIP) through the historical theories of Gaëtan de Clérambault and Karl Bonhoeffer. De Clérambault's concept of mental automatism describes involuntary intrusions into consciousness, such as unbidden thoughts or sensations, as the core mechanism of psychosis. Bonhoeffer's exogenous psychosis model emphasizes how external triggers like drugs interact with biological vulnerabilities to produce psychotic episodes. Together, these frameworks suggest that prolonged substance use can erode mental resilience, leading to chronic psychosis, and offer insights for diagnosis and treatment.