How can we approach to traumatic stories in psychosocial rehabilitation contexts? A case study of a patient of paranoid schizophrenia

https://doi.org/10.18294/sc.2009.262

Published 7 August 2009 Open Access


Javier Saavedra Macías Licenciado en Psicología. Psicoanalista. Diplomado en Salud Mental en Situaciones de Violencia Política y Catástrofes. Docente-Investigador del Programa Nacional de Formación del Profesorado Universitario, Departamento de Psicología Experimental, Universidad de Sevilla, España



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Keywords:

Personal Narratives, Schizophrenia, Rehabilitation, Life Change Events, Community Mental Health Services

Abstract


The stories, which we construct about our own lives, have been postulated as one of the essential instruments for the construction of the social identity. Nevertheless, Psychology and Social Sciences have paid little attention to the elaboration of life narratives of schizophrenic patients in rehabilitation process, especially patients who live in residences or "supported houses" of a specific social character. This article describes an experience of approach to a personal traumatic story which belongs to a patient of paranoid schizophrenia in the setting of a social residential center. The theoretical essentials elements of the narrative psychology are showed in the present work and it's supported the need for a coherent and shareable life narrative in order to achieve completely the patients' recovery. Moreover, the necessity is discussed that supported houses assisting people with serious mental disorders support the construction of coherent life narratives. The author proposes the term of "narrative accompaniment" to refer to the life narrative reelaboration processes of the personal history in non clinical contexts.