In this transcultural study of schizophrenic delusions among patients in Se
oul, Shanghai and Taipei, we discovered that both the frequency and content
of delusions differed among the three groups; and that these differences c
ould perhaps be explained by varying sociocultural and political situations
. Delusional themes that are sensitive to sociocultural or political situat
ions include guilt, love/sex, religion, somatic damage, economy/business an
d politics. Delusions regarding longevity, love/sex, dysmorphophobia/dysosm
ophobia, religion or supernatural matters, and espionage/spy stories were m
ost frequent in Seoul patients. Those in Taipei predominantly had delusions
about possession, religion or supernatural matters, hypnotism, and mass me
dia/computers. Shanghai patients often had delusions of poisons, being pric
kled by poisoned needles, their brain and viscera extracted and being a fam
ily member of political authorities.