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Cited by 26Identity, Memory, and TherapyMental Health and PsychiatryPsychological and Temporal Perspectives Research

Narrative identity in psychopathology: A negative past and a bright but foreshortened future

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Jensen, Rikke Amalie Agergaard, Thomsen, Dorthe Kirkegaard, Bliksted, Vibeke Fuglsang, Ladegaard, Nicolai·2020·Psychiatry Research
DOI 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113103
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Abstract

We examined narrative identity as a possible transdiagnostic marker of psychopathology by interviewing individuals with schizophrenia, individuals with depression and a nonclinical control group about past and future chapters in their life stories. Participants were 20 patients with schizophrenia, 20 patients with depression, and 20 nonclinical control participants matched on age, gender, and education. Participants described up to 10 chapters in their past and future life stories and self-rated chapters on emotional tone and self-event connections. In addition, cognitive function and current levels of symptoms was assessed. Both patient groups self-rated their past chapters as more negative and less positive compared to the control group, but did not differ from each other. There were no group differences in positivity of future chapters, but both patient groups identified fewer future chapters with shorter temporal projections. The results are consistent with the notion that negative past aspects of narrative identity are a transdiagnostic marker of psychopathology, while also suggesting that individuals with mental illness construct a positive future, which may support hope.

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  • In SSD, no differences in positive self-event connections compared to healthy controls.

    “and no differences in positive self-event connections”

    From Narrative identity in the psychosis spectrum: A systematic review and developmental model (2021) · cites this paper as Jensen et al., 2020

    The Results report no group differences in self-event connections for future chapters, and no difference in past positive change connections between patients with schizophrenia and controls. But patients with schizophrenia scored lower than controls on past positive stability connections, so the unqualified claim about positive self-event connections is too broad. The study examined patients with schizophrenia, not the full schizophrenia spectrum. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • In depression, even more negative self-event connections are reported than in SSD.

    “who reported even more negative self-event connections than the SSD group”

    From Narrative identity in the psychosis spectrum: A systematic review and developmental model (2021) · cites this paper as Jensen et al., 2020

    The Results report that patients with depression scored higher than patients with schizophrenia on negative change connections. This was the only significant difference between the patient groups in negative self-event connections, so the broader wording does not hold for every type measured. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Research works printed but not linked: 25

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Authors
Jensen, R. A. A., Thomsen, D. K., Bliksted, V. F., & Ladegaard, N.
Affiliations
  • Aarhus University (DK)
  • Aarhus University Hospital (DK)
Corresponding author
Jensen, Rikke Amalie Agergaard
ORCID
Venue
Psychiatry Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-08
Volume
290
Pages
113103
ISSN
0165-1781 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113103
OpenAlex
W3029408591
Cited by
26
References
78
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3
FWCI
4.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Psychiatry Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Danmarks Grundforskningsfond
  • Velux Fonden
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Mental Health and Psychiatry
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Psychological and Temporal Perspectives Research
Keywords
narrative identity, life stories, transdiagnostic markers, schizophrenia, depression, psychopathology, emotional tone, hope, temporal projection, cognitive function
MeSH terms
Adult, Cognition, Depression, Emotions, Female, Forecasting, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychopathology, Schizophrenia, Self Concept, Case-Control Studies, Narration, Memory, Episodic

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