Abstract

CORTES DUQUE, Carolina; URIBE, Carlos Alberto  and  VASQUEZ, Rafael. Clinical Ethnography and Illness Narratives of Patients Affected with Obsessivecompulsive Disorder. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 2005, vol.34, n.2, pp.190-219. ISSN 0034-7450.

Using life histories and the methods of clinical ethnography, this article illustrates a variety of illness narratives that patients affected with obsessive-compulsive disorder construct to detail their symptoms and how these narratives are related to the life experiences and cultural context of each patient, that is, how the narratives are related to personal biographies. The article underlines the therapeutic value of illness narratives as each narrative, in its own right, brings forth useful interpretative material in understanding the illness, for both clinician and patient. This specific approach to personal explanation and understanding of obsessive-compulsive disorder may significantly influence therapy outcomes.

Keywords : obsessive-compulsive disorder; ceremonial behavior; narration.

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