Quantitative criteria of narrative coherence and complexity in persons with paranoid schizophrenia.

Narrative coherence and complexity have been considered as key concepts for understanding therapeutic improvement and recovery of persons with severe mental disorders. The main aim of this article is to study coherence and complexity of 18 life narratives of persons with paranoid schizophrenia by thirty quantitative analysis criteria. Two groups of patients were evaluated: a group of 9 patients recently admitted to specific Care Homes for people with severe mental disorders (G1) and another group of 9 patients who had been at the same Care Homes for a longer period of time (G2). Differences in patients' life narratives between 2 groups are explored. The analysis is divided into 3 phases. The first is called "analysis of lack of cohesion and delusional content"; the second "thematic analysis"; and the third "structural analysis". Results show that life narratives of long stay patients are more coherent and structured.