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Mental illness and personal recovery: A narrative identity framework
Dorthe Kirkegaard Thomsen1, Henry R Cowan2, Dan P McAdams3
1Psychology, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Clinical Psychology Review
|January 16, 2025
Summary
Narrative identity, or a person's life story, influences mental illness and recovery. Positive changes in life stories, supported by peers and professionals, are key to recovery from mental illness.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Mental Health
Background:
- Narrative identity, a person's internal life story, plays a complex role in mental health.
- Early adversity and negative experiences can shape a fragile life story, potentially increasing vulnerability to mental illness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a metamorphic model illustrating the dynamic relationship between narrative identity and the course of mental illness and recovery.
- To differentiate this model from personality-based theories of psychopathology.
- To guide future research and clinical interventions.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual model development.
- Integration of existing theories on narrative identity, adversity, and recovery.
- Comparative analysis with personality theories.
Main Results:
- A fragile life story, influenced by early adversity, can increase mental illness risk.
- Mental illness can impair narrative identity development, worsening functional outcomes.
- Positive shifts in narrative identity, facilitated by peer support and professional co-authorship, aid recovery.
Conclusions:
- Narrative identity is dynamically shaped by and shapes mental illness and recovery.
- The metamorphic model offers a novel framework for understanding psychopathology and recovery.
- The model has implications for therapeutic interventions focused on life story reconstruction.
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