Experiential exile, imprisonment, and homelessness in phenomenological research on psychosis

Previous phenomenological researchers have proposed that anomalous self-experiences, sometimes referred to as 'self-disturbances', are an experiential essence or core feature of psychotic states. A smaller but growing body of... [ view full abstract ]

Previous phenomenological researchers have proposed that anomalous self-experiences, sometimes referred to as 'self-disturbances', are an experiential essence or core feature of psychotic states. A smaller but growing body of literature has focused on anomalous experiences of the world, i.e., alterations in the experiences of other people, spatial surroundings, temporal events, and symbolic systems such as language. Still fewer studies have focused on specific anomalies in world experiences that relate to social interactions and institutions. This symposium will feature three presentations that address social and institutional aspects of anomalous world experiences. Each panelist will present phenomenological research findings in which the psychological-existential experiences of exile, imprisonment, and homelessness were prominent. The first presenter will address anomalous experiences that have been labeled Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome (APS). These experiences were distressing to participants, as they carried meanings of exile, being adrift and without satisfying contact with the new perceptual, mental, and relational world. Four typical pathways through the experience of exile will be presented. The second presenter will summarize a phenomenological study of psychiatric hospital experiences in diverse individuals diagnosed with psychotic disorders. Psychological structures of hospital experience included meanings of imprisonment and refuge. Discussion will focus on the potential applicability of these findings to the planning of psychiatric ward infrastructure and the training of mental health personnel.  The third presentation will discuss intersections among the first two studies and a third project that was presented at the 2016 ISPS-US Boston conference. The third project addressed experiences of psychological-existential homelessness (urhomelessness) in diverse participants carrying psychotic-disorder diagnoses. Future research might utilize the findings of these three studies as a bridge between phenomenological-existential research and research on the socio-environmental (ontic) risk factors for psychosis such as homelessness, migration, segregation, and trauma. Presenters will also encourage open discussion among the audience members.