Análisis del discurso depresivo

Abstract

This study reports on the use of discourse analysis techniques with patients suffering from depression in a therapeutic context. The first part of this report offers a description of the discourse features of the patients as well as a clinical diagnosis of depression. In the second part; there is a discussion relating to the degree of usefulness of linguistic research and particularly discourse analysis for the therapist. The data were obtained from 3 sources: Transcripts of taped interviews between the therapist and the patient; 2. written answers to a questionnaire based on 3 topics: death; the future and pleasure; 3. notes written by the same patients. The characteristics of the discourse of the patients are described and include the type of speech acts performed; a world view as constructed in the texts; the types of lexicon used and the appearance of “definite signs” in the discussion of death; pleasure or the future.