A decline in self-defining memories following a diagnosis of schizophrenia

Purpose: Receiving a diagnosis of schizophrenia can be a profound life transition that often has a negative influence on the patient's sense of self. The present study is the first to examine how self-defining memories are temporally distributed around age at diagnosis of schizophrenia. Method: 25 patients and 25 matched control participants identified 3 self-defining memories from their lives. In addition, participants were assessed with standardized interviews and questionnaires on negative and positive symptoms as well as tests of cognitive function.
Source: Comprehensive Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Source Type: research