Self in schizophrenia: An existential and psychodynamic perspective

Schizophrenia is characterized by a constellation of distinctive symptoms. As per the current classiicatory system, it includes thought disorder, delusions, hallucinations, lack of insight, and loss of contact with reality. It is one of the most disabling and emotionally devastating illnesses ever known. While the neuro-biological model emphasizes on the drug therapy and considers this problem treatable, it is imperative to consider the subjective experience of the patients to make treatment more comprehensive and holistic. Aim of this study is to understand the ‘self’ in schizophrenia from the existential-phenomenological and psychodynamic standpoint. This work was conducted at Ranchi Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Allied Sciences through the phenomenological work with patients of schizophrenia and its foundation was sought in the various classical literatures on the same subject.