Article published In: Narrative Inquiry
Vol. 24:1 (2014) ► pp.132–152
Narrative assessment
Differences between anxious and depressed patients
Published online: 28 October 2014
https://doi.org/10.1075/ni.24.1.07val
https://doi.org/10.1075/ni.24.1.07val
Studies on clients’ language processes in psychotherapy have focused on specific non-narrative aspects rather than on narrative processes. This study’s goal was to test the commonalities and differences between a group of narratives from 15 depressed patients and 14 anxious patients. Patients’ narratives were obtained through self-characterizations written by the client and, were analyzed by means of the Narrative Assessment Grid — a combination of narrative analysis dimensions. Results indicated that both groups could be distinguished by six of the 22 dimensions assessed: (a) Variety of characters, (b) Objectifying, (c) Intelligibility/Clarity, (d) Cognitive Subjectifying, (e) Metaphorizing; and (f) Intelligibility/Stability. Clinical implications of our results are discussed.
Keywords: narrative, depression, anxiety, self-characterization
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