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FrancoAngeli Journals

Osservatorio

No. 2 (2022)

Effects of express writing on a group of subjects with schizophrenia

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3280/gruoa2-2022oa19799
Submitted
marzo 20, 2025
Published
2025-04-04

Abstract

Objective. The present work had two objectives: The purpose of the present work was to 1) illustrate how the use of expressive writing can be useful in helping subjects with schizophrenia both in doing introspective work and in identifying an emotional connection between stressful event and related emotion; 2) investigate a possible connection between schizophrenic disorder and alexithymia. Methods. In this regard 12 schizophrenic subjects placed in a mental health day center in Padua selected on the basis of the presence of difficulties in identifying, expressing and managing emotions and underwent a cycle of 8 expressive writing meetings were involved.
All participants were asked to complete the questionnaire for the assessment of general psychological well-being (PGWBI) and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) pre, during and at the end of the activity. Results. Of the 12 participants, approximately 5 of the subjects are in the area of distress; while the TAS-20 shows only one alexithymic picture. On the other hand, with regard to the specific goals of emotion recognition and identification, identification of causal connections and coherent organization of narrative, deficits are found mainly in the ability to express. Conclusion. This study is shown to be in line with what has been reported in the case literature with regard to the schizophrenia-social-emotional deficits relationship, but at the same time it has allowed us to highlight new aspects, possible inputs for future reflections and insights.

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