Examining the Role of Narrative in Palliative Care for Parkinson Disease: Changing the Story.

Recent years have seen growing interest in neuropalliative care as a subspecialty. Simultaneously, the rise of narrative medicine in patient support groups and clinician training programs offers a way to listen deeply to the stories of those living with chronic illness and may inform corresponding health interventions. This commentary examines the ways in which an understanding of illness narrative schemata, particularly the so-called "chaos narrative," can contribute to patient and care partner distress, which in turn can be alleviated by a palliative care approach. Through examples of stories of people with Parkinson disease and their care partners, the article emphasizes the intersections between narrative medicine, neurology, and palliative care. Specific opportunities for bringing narrative medicine into the clinic are discussed.

Duke Scholars

Author Sneha Arun Mantri Neurology, Movement Disorders