Social Life in the Schizophrenia Spectrum: A Phenomenological Study of Five Patients
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Social Life in the Schizophrenia Spectrum : A Phenomenological Study of Five Patients. / Nilsson, Lars Siersbæk; Urfer Parnas, Annick; Nordgaard, Julie.
I: Psychopathology, Bind 52, Nr. 4, 2019, s. 232-239.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Social Life in the Schizophrenia Spectrum
T2 - A Phenomenological Study of Five Patients
AU - Nilsson, Lars Siersbæk
AU - Urfer Parnas, Annick
AU - Nordgaard, Julie
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Background: Social difficulties are a hallmark of schizophrenia spectrum conditions, yet their background and exact nature remain contested. Previous pivotal studies on chronically ill patients have suggested that a position of "positive withdrawal" is associated with a decreased tendency to rehospitalization. This concept designates an essentially withdrawn but not negatively experienced position balanced by elements relating the individual to the social world. Objectives: To explore a less ill subgroup of schizophrenia spectrum patients' ways of navigating the social world and examine potential links to anomalous self-experiences by applying key insights from phenomenology and anthropology. Method: The present study was part of a 5-year follow-up on a group of first-admission schizophrenia spectrum patients. From this sample of 48 patients, 5 were selected for qualitative evaluation following the principles of thematic analysis. Results: A "positively withdrawn" position characterizes a wider group of patients than originally reported. Further, we identified a preference for partaking in social activities in particular circumstances with clearly circumscribed goals or social roles and rules. This alleviated social discomfort and helped patients stay embedded in a social milieu. All patients experienced high levels of self-disorders. Conclusions: We suggest that certain aspects of social impairment may, in fact, reflect meaningful compensatory mechanisms, and argue that this conceptualization of social difficulties is relevant to various psychotherapeutic interventions.
AB - Background: Social difficulties are a hallmark of schizophrenia spectrum conditions, yet their background and exact nature remain contested. Previous pivotal studies on chronically ill patients have suggested that a position of "positive withdrawal" is associated with a decreased tendency to rehospitalization. This concept designates an essentially withdrawn but not negatively experienced position balanced by elements relating the individual to the social world. Objectives: To explore a less ill subgroup of schizophrenia spectrum patients' ways of navigating the social world and examine potential links to anomalous self-experiences by applying key insights from phenomenology and anthropology. Method: The present study was part of a 5-year follow-up on a group of first-admission schizophrenia spectrum patients. From this sample of 48 patients, 5 were selected for qualitative evaluation following the principles of thematic analysis. Results: A "positively withdrawn" position characterizes a wider group of patients than originally reported. Further, we identified a preference for partaking in social activities in particular circumstances with clearly circumscribed goals or social roles and rules. This alleviated social discomfort and helped patients stay embedded in a social milieu. All patients experienced high levels of self-disorders. Conclusions: We suggest that certain aspects of social impairment may, in fact, reflect meaningful compensatory mechanisms, and argue that this conceptualization of social difficulties is relevant to various psychotherapeutic interventions.
KW - Autism
KW - Intersubjectivity
KW - Phenomenological compensation
KW - Positive withdrawal
KW - Self-disorders
U2 - 10.1159/000501833
DO - 10.1159/000501833
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 31390645
AN - SCOPUS:85070634447
VL - 52
SP - 232
EP - 239
JO - Psychopathology
JF - Psychopathology
SN - 0254-4962
IS - 4
ER -
ID: 232068444