title: Self-images and related autobiographical memories in schizophrenia.
abstract: Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness, which affects sense of identity. While the ability to have a coherent vision of the self (i.e., self-images) relies partly on its reciprocal relationships with autobiographical memories, little is known about how memories ground "self-images" in schizophrenia. Twenty-five patients with schizophrenia and 25 controls were asked to give six autobiographical memories related to four self-statements they considered essential for defining their identity. Results showed that patients' self-images were more passive than those of controls. Autobiographical memories underlying self-images were less thematically linked to these self-images in patients. We also found evidence of a weakened sense of self and a deficient organization of autobiographical memories grounding the self in schizophrenia. These abnormalities may account for the poor cohesiveness of the self in schizophrenia.
authors: Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Clinique Psychiatrique, Pôle Psychiatrie et Santé Mentale, Hôpital Civil 1 Place de l'Hôpital, 67091 Strasbourg Cedex, France.
authors: Mehdi
authors: M
authors: Bennouna-Greene
authors: Fabrice
authors: F
authors: Berna
authors: Martin A
authors: MA
authors: Conway
authors: Clare J
authors: CJ
authors: Rathbone
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Vidailhet
authors: Jean-Marie
authors: JM
authors: Danion
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D060685:Sense of Coherence