LOST TIME, FOUND HOPE AND SORROW - THE SEARCH FOR SELF, CONNECTION, AND PURPOSE DURING AWAKENINGS ON THE NEW ANTIPSYCHOTICS

The novel antipsychotic medications clozapine and olanzapine provide w ell-documented clinical improvement for some patients with psychosis. We interviewed 15 patients with chronic psychosis who demonstrated sig nificant improvement on these new medications and offer a conceptual f ramework to organize their narratives. In our conceptual model, our pa tients' descriptions are divided into three broad areas: sense of self , sense of connection, and sense af purpose. We also highlight the opp ortunities for psychotherapy with this population.