Breaking the spell: Narrative Medicine applications for Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES).

Narrative Medicine (NM) sessions draw out the patient's narrative of illness or injury and treatment in the context of the patient's whole life story. The focus is to discover topics and areas in the patient's narrative that the patient needs to explore. PNES may be understood in many cases as a communication disorder in which distress is expressed somatically in a pathological way instead of an adaptive and verbal manner.

Narrative medicine applications for neuro-oncology patient identity and quality of life.

Background: We explore the applications of Narrative Medicine (NM) in the clinical care of brain cancer patients whose self-identity and quality of life are challenged by their disease and treatment. This paper considers how NM may help patients retain and rediscover self-identity during treatment.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of NM sessions at our institution in 2016 with focus on life perspectives and priorities along with outlook or attitude and any changes in their symptoms and possible impact on their lives.

Narrative medicine applications for patient identity and quality of life in ventricular assist device (VAD) patients.

Patients with advanced heart failure may experience a variety of challenges to their self-identity and quality of life due to their heart condition and treatment by implantation of a ventricular assist device (VAD). These challenges include loss of energy and stamina, loss of independence and autonomy, dependence on loved ones and caregivers for help, strained relationships with family and friends, and uncertainty about treatment outcomes and time of recovery. Narrative Medicine (NM) sessions may help patients to reflect on their situation, rediscover identity, and engage sources of meaning by telling or writing their story.

Narrative Medicine perspectives on patient identity and integrative care in neuro-oncology.

Narrative Medicine sessions can encourage patients to rediscover personal identity and meaning by telling or writing their stories. We explored this process to improve care and quality of life for brain cancer patients in an academic neuro-oncology program. Brain cancer and its treatments may threaten a patient's quality of life and sense of self in many ways, including impaired cognitive skills, loss of memory, reduced coordination, and limited capacity for self-expression.