Narrative as an outcome domain in psychosis

Abstract

A recent renewed interest in psychosocial treatments for psychosis has only minimally included considerations of narrative therapy and other interventions based in post-modernism. This lack of attention is curious given the profound narrative disruptions often seen in psychotic illness. In this review article we describe several studies in which narratives and narrative dimensions have been utilized to assess outcomes in psychosis. Valid and reliable measures of narrative change in psychosis are possible and can coexist with and complement traditional outcome measures. Perhaps more significantly, considerations of narrative changes may offer unique insights into the process of recovery from psychosis as well as leading to beneficial psychosocial treatments for the same.