Time, context, and subjective experiences in schizophrenia.
M W deVries, P A Delespaul
Schizophrenia Bulletin 1989 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/15.2.233 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study using experience sampling Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 16 |
| Population | Nine schizophrenic patients (including inpatients and outpatients) and seven nonpsychiatric controls |
| Measures | Experience Sampling Method |
| Keywords | Humans Hallucinations Prognosis Delusions Social adjustment Sick role Time perception Thinking Mood disorders Schizophrenia Schizophrenic psychology Social environment Adult Middle aged Female |
| Key findings | Patients with schizophrenia spent more time alone than controls, largely because of the outpatient subgroup, while hospitalized patients were less alone. Patients reported feeling best when with one to three people and found being alone or with more than three people most troublesome. Three cases illustrate individual variability in experience. |
Abstract
Systematic investigations into the experience of schizophrenic patients as they react and adapt to social environments are rare. Yet such information is extremely useful for understanding the psychopathology of schizophrenia, the planning of treatments, as well as for creating optimal treatment and living environments. In this study, dynamic fluctuations of mental state, social context, and experience in the daily life of schizophrenic patients were measured. Data were collected using the Experience Sampling Method on nine schizophrenic subjects and seven nonpsychiatric controls. Schizophrenic patients spent more time alone than normal--a difference that was largely created by the subsample of outpatients; hospitalized patients were less alone. As a group, the patients felt best when they were with one to three persons. The most troublesome condition reported was being alone or being in the company of more than three people. Three cases are presented to illustrate the individual variability of subjects' experience.