Papers by Helena García-Mieres
Journal of Psychiatric Research, 2020
Disturbances in personal identity are recognized in psychosis and depression. However, it is unkn... more Disturbances in personal identity are recognized in psychosis and depression. However, it is unknown whether these disruptions share common processes across clinical groups, or whether there are unique alterations by group or between men and women within each clinical group. To advance on this question, we compared personal identity dimensions in psychosis and depression and investigated the effects of gender and depressive mood. This study assessed dimensions of personal identity using the repertory grid technique among 85 outpatients with psychosis, 85 outpatients with depressive disorders and 85 healthy controls who were matched by age. Data regarding depressive mood and general functioning was also collected. Results showed that self-discrepancies were higher in psychosis and depression than in controls, and were associated with depressive mood. Interpersonal dichotomous thinking was more prevalent in women in both clinical groups. Women with psychosis showed higher ideal-others discrepancy and had a more complex structure of personal identity than their male counterparts. To conclude, alterations in self-ideal and self-others discrepancies may be transdiagnostic dimensions related to depressive mood. Interpersonal dichotomous thinking may also be a common dimensional characteristic in psychosis and depression but more specific to women. Finally, critical views of others and a higher complexity of personal identity may be more specific to women than men with psychosis. Our results are consistent with other studies pointing to the need for person-focused treatments promoting the recovery of a full sense of personal identity, rather than just focusing on specific thoughts and feelings.
Schizophrenia Bulletin, 2020
Background
People with psychosis experience disruptions in personal identity that affect positive... more Background
People with psychosis experience disruptions in personal identity that affect positive and negative symptoms, but the complexity of these phenomena needs to be addressed in an in-depth manner. Using the Personal Construct Theory, we examined whether distinct dimensions of personal identity, as measured with the Repertory Grid Technique along with other cognitive factors, might influence psychotic symptomatology.
Method
Eighty-five outpatients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders completed a repertory grid, an observed-rated interview of psychotic symptoms, and measures of cognitive insight, depressive symptoms, neurocognition, and theory of mind.
Results
Structural equation models revealed that interpersonal dichotomous thinking directly affected positive symptoms. Self-discrepancies influenced positive symptoms by mediation of depressive symptoms. Interpersonal cognitive differentiation and interpersonal cognitive richness mediated the impact of self-reflectivity and neurocognitive deficits in negative symptomatology.
Conclusions
This study is the first of its kind to examine the structure of personal identity in relation to positive and negative symptoms of psychosis. Results suggest interventions targeted to improving interpersonal dichotomous thinking, self-discrepancies, interpersonal cognitive differentiation, and interpersonal cognitive richness may be useful in improving psychotic symptoms.
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 2019
Current research and clinical practice in person‐centred approaches highlight the importance of s... more Current research and clinical practice in person‐centred approaches highlight the importance of self, identity, and personal meanings in psychosis. Previous research has focused on dimensions of self, but less attention has been paid to the personal meanings involved in identity. The personal construct theory framework and the repertory grid technique (RGT) allow the study of identity and personal meanings within person‐centred approaches of psychopathology and treatment in psychosis, as suggested by studies that began more than 40 years ago. However, their contributions have not yet been reviewed. We aimed to systematically review the evidence for the role of identity and personal meanings in psychotic disorders. We performed a systematic search using personal construct and RGT terms in PsycINFO, Web of Science, PubMed, EBSCO, Scopus, and Google Scholar. After identifying 2,574 articles, 15 were included. Nine studies followed an idiographic assessment, and six were nomothetic. Patients reported their subjective experience of isolation in terms of high self‐ideal discrepancy and high perceived discrepancy with their significant others, which some studies associated with a lower degree of recovery or with the way in which positive symptoms were construed. Self‐fragmentation either decreased with interventions or was associated with recovery. Evidence regarding interpersonal construing was less consistent, but there was a tendency for patients to show a more rigid cognitive structure than controls. To conclude, we found some evidence that self‐discrepancies, fragmentation of self, and interpersonal construing are affected in psychosis and potentially modifiable through psychotherapy.
In this paper we illustrate the potential of the repertory
grid technique as an instrument for ca... more In this paper we illustrate the potential of the repertory
grid technique as an instrument for case formulation and
understanding of the personal perception and meanings
of people with a diagnosis of psychotic disorders. For this
purpose, the case of James is presented: A young man
diagnosed with schizophrenia and personality disorder,
with severe persecutory delusions and other positive
symptoms that have not responded to antipsychotic
medication, as well with depressive symptomatology. His
case was selected because of the way his symptoms are
reflected in his personal perception of self and others,
including his main persecutory figure, in the different
measures that result from the analysis of his repertory
grid. Some key clinical hypotheses and possible targets for
therapy are discussed.
En este trabajo se estudian las relaciones entre la conducta supersticiosa y el locus de control.... more En este trabajo se estudian las relaciones entre la conducta supersticiosa y el locus de control. El estudio de la conducta supersticiosa se llevó a cabo a través de la elaboración de una Escala de Conducta Supersticiosa que recogía aspectos como astrología, predestinación, tarot, adivinación, ritos mágicos, u otros rituales; y el uso conjunto del Inventario de Rotter sobre locus de control Interno-Externo. Los análisis realizados muestran que la conducta supersticiosa mantiene una alta relación con el locus de control y el nivel académico de los participantes. Palabras claves: conducta supersticiosa, locus de control, nivel académico, fiabilidad, validez.
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Papers by Helena García-Mieres
People with psychosis experience disruptions in personal identity that affect positive and negative symptoms, but the complexity of these phenomena needs to be addressed in an in-depth manner. Using the Personal Construct Theory, we examined whether distinct dimensions of personal identity, as measured with the Repertory Grid Technique along with other cognitive factors, might influence psychotic symptomatology.
Method
Eighty-five outpatients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders completed a repertory grid, an observed-rated interview of psychotic symptoms, and measures of cognitive insight, depressive symptoms, neurocognition, and theory of mind.
Results
Structural equation models revealed that interpersonal dichotomous thinking directly affected positive symptoms. Self-discrepancies influenced positive symptoms by mediation of depressive symptoms. Interpersonal cognitive differentiation and interpersonal cognitive richness mediated the impact of self-reflectivity and neurocognitive deficits in negative symptomatology.
Conclusions
This study is the first of its kind to examine the structure of personal identity in relation to positive and negative symptoms of psychosis. Results suggest interventions targeted to improving interpersonal dichotomous thinking, self-discrepancies, interpersonal cognitive differentiation, and interpersonal cognitive richness may be useful in improving psychotic symptoms.
grid technique as an instrument for case formulation and
understanding of the personal perception and meanings
of people with a diagnosis of psychotic disorders. For this
purpose, the case of James is presented: A young man
diagnosed with schizophrenia and personality disorder,
with severe persecutory delusions and other positive
symptoms that have not responded to antipsychotic
medication, as well with depressive symptomatology. His
case was selected because of the way his symptoms are
reflected in his personal perception of self and others,
including his main persecutory figure, in the different
measures that result from the analysis of his repertory
grid. Some key clinical hypotheses and possible targets for
therapy are discussed.
People with psychosis experience disruptions in personal identity that affect positive and negative symptoms, but the complexity of these phenomena needs to be addressed in an in-depth manner. Using the Personal Construct Theory, we examined whether distinct dimensions of personal identity, as measured with the Repertory Grid Technique along with other cognitive factors, might influence psychotic symptomatology.
Method
Eighty-five outpatients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders completed a repertory grid, an observed-rated interview of psychotic symptoms, and measures of cognitive insight, depressive symptoms, neurocognition, and theory of mind.
Results
Structural equation models revealed that interpersonal dichotomous thinking directly affected positive symptoms. Self-discrepancies influenced positive symptoms by mediation of depressive symptoms. Interpersonal cognitive differentiation and interpersonal cognitive richness mediated the impact of self-reflectivity and neurocognitive deficits in negative symptomatology.
Conclusions
This study is the first of its kind to examine the structure of personal identity in relation to positive and negative symptoms of psychosis. Results suggest interventions targeted to improving interpersonal dichotomous thinking, self-discrepancies, interpersonal cognitive differentiation, and interpersonal cognitive richness may be useful in improving psychotic symptoms.
grid technique as an instrument for case formulation and
understanding of the personal perception and meanings
of people with a diagnosis of psychotic disorders. For this
purpose, the case of James is presented: A young man
diagnosed with schizophrenia and personality disorder,
with severe persecutory delusions and other positive
symptoms that have not responded to antipsychotic
medication, as well with depressive symptomatology. His
case was selected because of the way his symptoms are
reflected in his personal perception of self and others,
including his main persecutory figure, in the different
measures that result from the analysis of his repertory
grid. Some key clinical hypotheses and possible targets for
therapy are discussed.