Jaspers said that we do not perceive space and time as objects, but rather we perceive them with objects.
The fact that both space and time are perceived through objects, and that their psychopathological expressions can be found in other chapters already studied, is a significant factor. In other words, we must not forget that all of these expressions can be found in other disorders, whether sensory-perceptual or emotional. Moreover, in many cases, they are secondary to alterations in other primary functions: memory, perception, emotion, etc.
That is why all these psychological expressions will be presented in a somewhat artificial way, for purely didactic purposes.
Psychopathology of spatial perception
We will follow the classification made by López Sánchez et al. ((López Sánchez, JM et al. Compendium of psychopathology. Ed. Circle of Psychopathological Studies. 2nd Edition. Granada (1982)).
Noetic or geometric spaceA noetic space is one that is intellectually constructed by the individual. These are representations based on concepts.
Individual spaceIt is the space that we incorporate into ourselves, into our own particular self.
Syntonic, pathological, or vital space: Defines that external space in which the subject carries out his vital participation.
PSYCHOPATHOLOGY OF SPACE:
Micropsies: When objects are perceived as smaller than they actually are.
Macropsias: When objects are perceived as larger.
Dysmegalopsias: Objects are perceived as distorted.
metamorphopsiaWhen the forms change successively.
Dysmegalopsia hallucinationsThe group comprising micropsias, macropsias, and dysmegalopsias is often grouped by some authors within the dysmegalopsia hallucinations, Given the clinical observation that each of these conditions does not usually occur in isolation,
DysmorphopsiaThese are subjective and erroneous perceptions perceived by the individual in their own body.
HeautoscopyThis is said when an individual hallucinates that they see themselves as a double. They perceive themselves in the external world, outside of themselves, as a second self.
False movements: When the individual observes that certain objects or people move, without there actually being any displacements.
Motion vision hallucinations: Name given by Vallejo Nájera to false movements.
Acceleration of movement: Subjective feeling that objects are moving at a higher speed than they actually are.
Slowing of movement: Subjective feeling that objects are moving more slowly.
Spatial disorientationIt is also commonly called Allopsychic disorientationThis refers to when the subject is unable to orient themselves in external space.
Psychopathology of temporal perception
Target time: Also called chronological.
Subjective timeThis refers to the overall awareness that each individual experiences regarding the passage of time. These can be:
- Weather precipitationIn certain pathological or emotional situations, one may experience the sensation that time passes more quickly than normal.
- Slowing down of timeThis is the opposite psychological phenomenon to the previous one: the feeling that time passes more slowly.
- It is common for children to experience the sensation that time passes slowly, contrary to what happens in old age. For someone suffering from hypomania or mania, time passes more quickly, contrary to what happens in depressive individuals.
- Stop timeIn states of ecstasy, one can experience that time stops; this also happens in some schizophrenics who express it as "Experience of eternity."
- Loss of the reality of timeIt is defined as the experience that the present time does not flow. Ultimately, it is as if only the present exists for the individual; the awareness of the flow of time is lost, as if neither past nor future existed.
- In these cases there is what is called "void of time" and is usually linked to a feeling of unreality of oneself (depersonalization), or experiences of estrangement from reality (derealization).
- EcsmnesiaThis occurs when the individual believes the present is the past. They experience the past as if it were the present. It is common in dementia, where the affected person speaks of past events as if they were happening now.
- Temporal disorientationIt is not capable of precisely placing events in a temporal or chronological order with respect to the present and the past. It is also called disorganization of temporal orientation.
