SUBJECTIVE THEORIES OF ILLNESS IN PATIENTS WITH PERSONALITY-DISORDERS- QUALITATIVE COMPARISON OF 12 DIAGNOSTIC INTERVIEWS

We present a study of 12 psychotherapeutic intake interviews with pati ents suffering from severe personality disorder. Verbatim transcripts of the interviews were systematically examined by means of qualitative content analysis. The analysis was focused on the categories subjecti ve theories of illness, biography, and patients' characterization of t heir personality. We found certain typifications and ideal types guidi ng the finding of a diagnosis. The type of personality prevailing in o ur study was characterized by an attitude of high ambitions, aiming at extreme goals and striving for self-realization. There were tendencie s to expect too much of oneself and a feeling of failure to achieve. P atients talked about loss of the ability to control their impulses and tendencies to subordinate others or to be dominated by others. They u sually avoided problems, isolated themselves, and withdrew from social contacts. Implications of our results, including a comparison with re sults of SASB (structural analysis of social behavior) studies on the subject, are discussed.