Subjective experiences of schizophrenia: toward a new dynamic psychiatry--II

Abstract

This report develops the notion that the mental health field often ignores or avoids many aspects of patients' reports about their experiences of schizophrenia and related disorders. When closer attention is paid to patients' reports of their experiences, one key phenomenon suggested is the importance of the interaction between the person and the disorder. This interaction evolves over time and has numerous implications for understanding, studying, and treating schizophrenia and related disorders. Specifically, the interaction involves the person as a goal-directed being, the person's feelings as helping to drive the phases of disorder and improvement, and the existence of psychological regulatory mechanisms.