Disrupted self-referential processing and empathy-based interventions in mental disorders: neural mechanisms, cognitive biases, and therapeutic integration
Frontiers in Psychiatry July 6, 2026 Qinglin Bao, Dezhi Yang, Zhiheng Dong et al.
Self-referential processing (SRP), the mental activity of linking experiences and stimuli to the self, is fundamental to shaping identity, regulating affect, and navigating complex social environments. Disruptions in SRP are increasingly recognized as a transdiagnostic hallmark across psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia spectrum disorders, major depressive disorder, and anxiety...