Characteristics of Ambivalence of Self-image in Patients with Schizophrenia.

Kim, Byung Hoon; Shin, Yu Bin; Kyeong, Sunghyon; Lee, Seon Koo; Kim, Eun Joo; Kim, Jae Jin

doi:2016.19.1.5

Korean J Schizophr Res > Volume 19(1); 2016 > Article

Original Article

Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research 2016;19(1):5-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.16946/kjsr.2016.19.1.5 Published online April 30, 2016.

Characteristics of Ambivalence of Self-image in Patients with Schizophrenia.

Byung Hoon Kim, Yu Bin Shin, Sunghyon Kyeong, Seon Koo Lee, Eun Joo Kim, Jae Jin Kim

¹Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jaejkim@yonsei.ac.kr
²Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
³Department of Psychiatry, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
⁴Graduate School of Education, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Ambivalence of self-image is considered to be important in patients with schizophrenia since impairment of self-referential processing and increment in ambivalence are illness-related symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate quantitative and qualitative properties of ambivalence of self-image in patients with schizophrenia.
METHODS
Twenty patients with schizophrenia and 20 normal controls performed a set of 'self-image reflection task' and then the level of ambivalence towards actual and ideal self-image were numerically scored. Ambivalence scores were compared between groups and correlation analyses with psychometric scales were done in each group.
RESULTS
Patients with schizophrenia had higher level of ambivalence towards both actual and ideal self-image (p<0.001). Normal controls showed significant correlations with the scales representing level of self-concept clarity (r=-0.480, p=0.033), depression (r=0.479, p=0.033), and self-esteem (r=-0.555, p=0.011 ; R=-0.600, p=0.005) while the patients did not.
CONCLUSION
Ambivalence towards one's self-image is more intense in patients with schizophrenia. This symptom may be considered to exist as an independent symptom in schizophrenia.

Key Words: Schizophrenia · Ambivalence · Self-image