Psychosis and identity: Alteration or loss?. Issue 5 (1st June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gergel, Tania; Iacoponi, Eduardo
• Is Part Of: Journal of evaluation in clinical practice. Volume 23:Issue 5(2017)
• Page Start: 1029
• Page End: 1037
• Publication Date: 2017-06-01
• Subjects: identity -- personal identity -- personhood -- psychosis -- psychotic disorders -- schizophrenia -- self; Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; 616.005
• DOI: 10.1111/jep.12768
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1356-1294

Abstract

Abstract: The onset of psychotic disorders often brings major changes to an individual, which, for some, are never fully reversed and remain a dominant force. Despite such changes, the individual still experiences themselves as a continuous person and must find some way to assimilate these shifts into their self‐concept. From a philosophical perspective, the various models of continuing identity all depend upon some notion of fundamental stability, which seems a poor fit for the trajectory associated with psychotic disorders. This article will explore, in more depth, how the transitions that accompany psychotic disorders present a challenge to conventional and philosophical notions of selfhood. If we are not simply to judge psychotic disorders as bringing about a loss of selfhood, we will need an alternative model of identity to use in this context.