Expressive writing in patients with depressive disorder: Narrative analysis

Abstract

Objectives. The research aims to capture the properties of the narrative structure in the texts of expressive writing in patients with depressive disorder. Sample and settings. Expressive Writing (EW) was administered to 22 patients (15 women, 7 men) at the beginning of hospitalization at a psychiatric clinic and five weeks thereafter. Research questions. What are the characteristics of the narrative structure of EWs in patients with depression? How does this structure develop during treatment? Data analysis. EWs were analysed using narrative analysis following these five basic outputs: 1) Themes, 2) Acting, 3) Values and beliefs, 4) An image of self and others, and 5) Reflection and perspective. Results. The analysis shows that the most thematically covered are categories of imprisonment in illness, fears for the future, relationships. These themes form a basis for the values and beliefs captured. The image of self in others is burdened with feelings of hopelessness, misfortune, and illness; patients compare themselves to others they consider happy and healthy. Acting is not accentuated due to the lack of strength and will to act. In this category, patients in remission exhibited an increase of acting in the 5th week after hospitalization. Limitations. The main limit of this study is the data collection method because EW does not allow to ask about certain aspects of the text and to elaborate some topics in depth.