title: Life story chapters and narrative self-continuity in patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: The present study compared life story chapters and self-defining memories in 25 patients with schizophrenia and 25 matched controls. All participants were tested on neurocognition and rated on symptoms. Participants identified and rated life story chapters and self-defining memories on emotional valence, causal coherence, and self-continuity. Temporal coherence and temporal macrostructure were also assessed. Patients rated their life story chapters as more negative compared to controls, but there were few significant differences regarding temporal coherence, temporal macrostructure, and ratings of causal coherence and self-continuity. In patients, poorer neurocognitive function and higher degree of negative symptoms were related to less causal coherence and lower self-continuity in relation to chapters. In general, few differences were found between the patients and the controls. This may be due to the highly structured method used to assess life stories or to the fact that our patient group was cognitively well-functioning.
authors: Department of Psychology, Aarhus University, Denmark; Center on Autobiographical Memory Research (CON AMORE), Aarhus University, Denmark; Aarhus University Hospital Risskov, Psychosis Research Unit, Denmark. Electronic address: tine.holm@psy.au.dk.
authors: Tine
authors: T
authors: Holm
authors: Department of Psychology, Aarhus University, Denmark; Center on Autobiographical Memory Research (CON AMORE), Aarhus University, Denmark.
authors: Dorthe Kirkegaard
authors: DK
authors: Thomsen
authors: Aarhus University Hospital Risskov, Psychosis Research Unit, Denmark.
authors: Vibeke
authors: V
authors: Bliksted
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D033262:Narration; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Life story chapters; Life story coherence; Schizophrenia; Self-continuity; Self-defining memories