[A phenomenological approach to psychopathology of imagination: Development of a descriptive instrument - Examination of Anomalous Fantasy and Imagination].
Andreas Rosén Rasmussen, Helene Stephensen, Julie Nordgaard, Josef Parnas, Jérome Englebert, Florestan Delcourt
L'Encephale August 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2024.10.008
Summary
An impressive average interrater reliability of 0.84 was achieved using the Examination of Anomalous Fantasy and Imagination (EAFI) among 20 inpatients, indicating strong agreement on assessing self-disorders related to schizophrenia-spectrum conditions. The internal consistency of the EAFI also demonstrated high reliability with a Cronbach's α above 0.88. This tool facilitates a phenomenological exploration of imagination anomalies, shedding light on how these experiences may signify deeper alterations in consciousness, particularly relevant for diagnosing first-contact patients with schizotypal disorder.
Abstract
This paper is a French translation of the Examination of Anomalous Fantasy and Imagination (EAFI), an instrument for a semi-structured, phenomenological exploration of psychopathology of imagination, particularly within the schizophrenia-spectrum. In this paper, we provide a French translation of the EAFI together with an introduction about the phenomenology of imagination and its experiential alterations. Furthermore, the paper includes a study of the interrater reliability of the EAFI, which was examined in a diagnostically heterogeneous sample of 20 inpatients. The interrater agreement ranged from 0.6 to 1.0, with an average κ of 0.84. The internal consistency of the EAFI as measured by Cronbach's α was above 0.88. We suggest that the anomalies of imagination explored by the EAFI reflect an alteration of the structure of consciousness and belong to a fundamental, generative layer of psychopathology. These disorders may have relevance for differential diagnostic purposes, especially in first-contact patients.