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Barriers to understanding patients with schizophrenia: Narrative exchange and the challenge of dialogical distance

Nature Mental Health volume 2, pages 9–11 (2024)Cite this article

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A deficit-oriented approach to describing living with schizophrenia obscures the challenges affected individuals face in being understood by others. Though symptoms of the illness complicate the development of a robust narrative self, patients still seek meaningful dialogue, and provider attitudes and practices can foster this narrative voice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    Youjin Jenny Jang & Walid Yassin

  2. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Youjin Jenny Jang & Walid Yassin

  3. Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Walid Yassin

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  1. Youjin Jenny Jang
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  2. Walid Yassin
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Correspondence to Walid Yassin.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Jang, Y.J., Yassin, W. Barriers to understanding patients with schizophrenia: Narrative exchange and the challenge of dialogical distance. Nat. Mental Health 2, 9–11 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-023-00182-1

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