Joaquín Díaz Atienza
INTRODUCTION
These are the psychopathological symptoms that have received the most attention from clinicians because they have been considered the core of schizophrenia. In fact, Kurt Schneider 1He considers them "first-order" symptoms. Some authors even claim that a single one of the symptoms he describes would be sufficient to diagnose schizophrenia. They represent the total loss of psychic autonomy on the part of the individual, leaving them at the mercy and subject to the will of another and/or their environment. It is the invasion of the other upon themselves.
Alterations in the experiences of self and ownership
Thought theft/interception:
The patient is absolutely convinced that their thoughts have been intercepted or stolen by another person or people. This results in an absence of language due to thought blocking. This blocking is sometimes interpreted as a defensive mechanism on the part of the patient, and other times as a sign that the subject's mutism is due to having run out of ideas because they have been stolen.
Dissemination of thought:
The individual is convinced that their thoughts are known to others. This psychopathological phenomenon is related to the echo of thought and sound of thought, where the patient is convinced that his thoughts are being heard by others.
Imposition of thought:
It is characterized by the subject's conviction that their thoughts do not belong to them, but are imposed by another person or persons. The patient appears distressed and reluctant to accept them because they contradict their own beliefs.
Mentism or thought automation:
It was described by Philippe Charlie. He describes it as repetitive and uncontrolled thoughts and images that appear in the subject's mind. This definition would be closer to the anancastic mental activity than the delusional. However, for other authors, the subject experiences these thoughts and images as their own, even though imposed by others. Therefore, the latter is closer to the imposition of thoughtThe difference is that this time the patient experiences them as their own.
REFERENCES
- I. Eguiluz and R. Segarra. Introduction to Psychopathology. An updated view. 2013. Barcelona. Edit-Med. Panamericana (2nd Ed)
- Fernando Sarráis. Psychopathology. 2016. Navarra. EUNSA Publishing.
- Higueras Aranda A, López Sánchez JM, Jiménez Linares R. Compendium of Psychopathology. 1980. Granada.CEP (2nd Ed)
- Kurt Schneider's primary symptoms are: 1) Thought voices, 2) hearing voices talking to each other, 3) hearing voices commenting on one's own activity, 4) the experience of someone influencing one's own body, 5) thought withdrawal, 6) thought broadcasting, 7) delusional perceptions, 8) the experience that everything is done by someone else, whether thoughts, emotions, decisions, or actions
