The experience of anxiety in person with schizophrenia – study based on interpretative phenomenological analysis

Abstract

Purpose: People with schizophrenia diagnosis experience anxiety in similar severity as people with anxiety disorders diagnosis and much more often and stronger than healthy individuals. Anxiety is associated with negative consequences such as worse social functioning, increased risk of symptom recurrence and a higher risk of suicide. The aim of this study was a description and qualitative analysis of the experience of anxiety in a person diagnosed with schizophrenia. Methods: A partially structured interview was conducted with a 26-year-old woman, who has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia for six years. The study uses a qualitative method of data analysis – Interpretative Phenomenological analysis (IPA). Results: Basing on the interview, five main subjects were extracted: (1) positive symptoms as a source of anxiety in psychosis, (2) the reasons why anxiety in psychosis is a particularly difficult experience, (3) anxiety in remission, (4) dealing with anxiety, (5) insight. Conclusions: Anxiety in psychosis is stronger and harder to deal with it comapred with anxiety in remission. The fear during psychosis is, for our interlocutor, particularly difficult due to persecutory delusions, feelings of loss of control, lack of criticism and suicidal thoughts. Important aspects of dealing with psychotic anxiety can be: a critical look at psychotic symptoms, feelings of control over anxiety and support from the environment. Our interlocutor compared anxiety experienced during remission to anxiety of healthy but neurotic individuals. In addition, anxiety in remission in a person with a diagnosis of schizophrenia can be triggered by places and memories of the period of psychosis, which supports the concept of postpsychotic PTSD.