From Experience to Symptoms: A Multilayer Hierarchy of Psychopathological Dimensions in Schizophrenia.
Stephan Lechner, Karl Erik Sandsten, Dusan Hirjak, Jonas Daub, Stefan Fritze, Geva A Brandt, Filipe Arantes-Gonçalves, Angelika Wolman, Riccardo Stefanelli, Julian Gojer, Sanjiv Gulati, Hasan Hersi, Josef Parnas, Georg Northoff
Psychopathology June 30, 2025 DOI: 10.1159/000547153 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | People with schizophrenia spectrum disorder |
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Hierarchy Psychopathology Schizophrenia spectrum disorder Self-disturbance |
| Citations | 7 |
| Key findings | Basic self-disturbance mediates the impact of altered time and space experiences on perceptual changes and on negative, positive, and general symptoms. |
Abstract
The psychopathology of schizophrenia is a complex amalgamation of features that span across different dimensions. These dimensions range from the experience of altered time and space through self-disorders to perceptual, positive, and negative symptoms. The relationship between these different psychopathological dimensions remains unclear. Addressing this gap was the aim of our study. We collected data on schizophrenia spectrum disorder at three medical expert centers, via semi-structured phenomenological interviews, consisting of the Scale for Space and Time Experience in Psychosis (STEP), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia (PANSS) and, for a subset of these data, the Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience (EASE), and the perceptual domain of the Bonn Scale for the Assessment of Basic Symptoms (BSABS or BONN). Various state-of-the-art statistical methods, including network and mediation analyses, were used to investigate the relationships between these psychopathological dimensions. We found a relationship between altered time and space experiences (STEP) and both general symptoms (PANSS) and the basic self-disorders (EASE). Our various network and mediation analyses show that the basic self-disturbance is a key node in mediating the impact of the more fundamental time and space disturbances on both perceptual changes, and negative, positive, and general symptoms.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on philosophy of mind, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survey of entity encounter experiences occasioned by inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine: Phenomenology, interpretation, and enduring effects. People who had a memorable entity encounter after taking N,N-dimethyltryptamine | 2020 | Survey | n = 2,561 |
| Future directions in meditation research: Recommendations for expanding the field of contemplative science Meditators | 2018 | Cross-sectional online survey | n = 1,120 |
| The Phenomenology of Lucid Dreaming: An Online Survey Respondents to an online survey about lucid dreams | 2014 | Online survey | n = 684 |
| The neurophenomenology of early psychosis: An integrative empirical study. Ultra-high risk for psychosis patients, first episode psychosis patients, and healthy... | 2019 | Cross-sectional | n = 123 |
| Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings: Phenomenology, Altered States, Individual Differences, and Well-Being People reporting their most powerful Spontaneous Spiritual or Kundalini Awakening | 2021 | Mixed within and between-participants self-report survey design | n = 152 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Disrupted metabolic support of intrinsic brain rhythms as a driver of spatiotemporal fragmentation in schizophrenia. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews September 28, 2026
- Subjective space and time experience in schizophrenia spectrum disorders and mood disorders: Psychometric properties and clinical correlates of the semi-structured STEP interview. Schizophrenia Research July 23, 2026
Cites 21
- The lived experience of psychosis: a bottom-up review co-written by experts by experience and academics. World Psychiatry June 1, 2022
- The neurophenomenology of early psychosis: An integrative empirical study. Consciousness and Cognition November 1, 2019
- Temporal structure of consciousness and minimal self in schizophrenia. Frontiers in Psychology 2014
- Fragile temporal prediction in patients with schizophrenia is related to minimal self disorders Scientific Reports August 15, 2017
- Disordered Selfhood in Schizophrenia and the Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience: Accumulated Evidence and Experience. Psychopathology 2021
and 16 more in the library