Wernicke's Delirium Explanations

Wernicke's delusional explanations are a condition in which the patient has a delusional interpretation of ordinary events observed in everyday life. This type of delusion is called “delusion of interpretation” and is one of the types of delusional disorders.

It occurs as a result of damage to the area of ​​the brain responsible for understanding languages ​​(mainly the temporo-parietal speech center, also called Wernicke's area). Since this part of the nervous system allows you to understand the meanings of words and quickly perceive and synthesize speech, disruption of its functions can lead to the appearance of fantasies characteristic of delusions. In this case, delusional ideas are understood correctly by the patient (that is, they are correct interpretations of completely logical auditory stimuli: sentences and statements), but are not perceived and do not make sense in the context of what is happening. Delusions of interpretation are usually associated with ideas of jealousy, poisoning, infection and madness.

Although delirium of interpretation is associated with irritability and tension when explaining one’s thoughts to others, it is generally considered to be a relatively harmless mental disorder - not dangerous, either for the patient or for society.