OBJECTIVE: to assess the narratives from the recalled accounts of cataplexy attacks of patients with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1). METHODS: twenty-two male adult patients meeting the International Classification of Sleep Disorders criteria for the diagnosis of NT1 referring to the Narcolepsy Center of the University of Bologna in the year 2017 underwent a semi-structured interview focusing on their personal experiences during the cataplectic attacks. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed by thematic analysis of elementary contexts using T-Lab software. RESULTS: the thematic analysis performed on the entire body text showed three clusters that explained 36.2%, 34.1% and 29.7% of the variance, respectively: a cluster related to situations that trigger attacks of cataplexy, one to bodily sensations and one to control strategies during episodes. The thematic content highlighted a tendency to disregard emotional experiences thus affecting the ability to name, recognize and regulate critical emotions. CONCLUSIONS: the study showed that NT1 patients spoke of their cataplectic attacks in terms of subjective bodily experiences, trigger situations and their management. Therefore, patients may have developed strategies of symptom management focused on emotion avoidance and / or inhibition.

Giving a voice to cataplectic experience: recalls from patients with narcolepsy type 1

Antelmi, Elena;
2020-01-01

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: to assess the narratives from the recalled accounts of cataplexy attacks of patients with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1). METHODS: twenty-two male adult patients meeting the International Classification of Sleep Disorders criteria for the diagnosis of NT1 referring to the Narcolepsy Center of the University of Bologna in the year 2017 underwent a semi-structured interview focusing on their personal experiences during the cataplectic attacks. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed by thematic analysis of elementary contexts using T-Lab software. RESULTS: the thematic analysis performed on the entire body text showed three clusters that explained 36.2%, 34.1% and 29.7% of the variance, respectively: a cluster related to situations that trigger attacks of cataplexy, one to bodily sensations and one to control strategies during episodes. The thematic content highlighted a tendency to disregard emotional experiences thus affecting the ability to name, recognize and regulate critical emotions. CONCLUSIONS: the study showed that NT1 patients spoke of their cataplectic attacks in terms of subjective bodily experiences, trigger situations and their management. Therefore, patients may have developed strategies of symptom management focused on emotion avoidance and / or inhibition.
2020
cataplexy attack; chronic illness; narrative medicine; subjective experience
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11562/1012214
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