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Related Experiment Videos

Schizophrenia, consciousness, and the self.

Louis A Sass1, Josef Parnas

  • 1Department of Clinical Psychology, Center for Cognitive Science, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.

Schizophrenia Bulletin
|November 12, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Schizophrenia may stem from core disturbances in consciousness, specifically hyperreflexivity and diminished self-affection. This self-disorder framework offers a unifying view of diverse schizophrenic symptoms.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Phenomenology
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Schizophrenic symptoms appear heterogeneous, lacking a unifying explanation.
  • Existing research often overlooks fundamental alterations in consciousness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a unifying account of schizophrenia based on core disturbances of consciousness.
  • To explore schizophrenia as a fundamental 'self-disorder' or 'ipseity disturbance'.

Main Methods:

  • Integration of psychiatric research, phenomenological psychiatry, cognitive science, and philosophy.
  • Phenomenological analysis of consciousness and self-awareness.
  • Examination of positive, negative, and disorganization symptoms through the lens of self-disorder.

Main Results:

  • Schizophrenia is characterized by ipseity disturbance, involving hyperreflexivity and diminished self-affection.
  • Hyperreflexivity: exaggerated self-consciousness where self-aspects feel external.
  • Diminished self-affection: weakened sense of self as a source of awareness and action.

Conclusions:

  • The self-disorder framework unifies diverse schizophrenic symptoms.
  • Understanding these core consciousness disturbances may aid in early detection of schizophrenia.

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