Relating movement markers of schizophrenia to self-experience—a mixed-methods study

Summary

Motor abnormalities and basic self-disorders are both considered potential endophenotypes of schizophrenia, but their relationship is rarely studied directly. Using data-driven gait markers previously identified in schizophrenia patients, this work links those movement markers to measures of basic self-disorder from EASE interviews. Quantitative correlations were supported by qualitative content analysis of four patients' interviews. Results indicate an association between movement markers and self-disorders, particularly in cognition, self-experience, and bodily experiences. Although individual movement marker scores did not precisely match patients' descriptions of anomalous self- and body experience, higher marker scores trended with more intense descriptions of specific experiences like hyperreflexivity. The findings support an integrated view of the patient and may inform therapeutic approaches targeting self- and body-experience in schizophrenia.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Introduction: Basic self-disorders on the one hand and motor symptoms on the other hand are discussed as endophenotypes of schizophrenia psychopathology. However, the systematic interaction between motor symptoms and the self-experience of patients is rarely studied. Methods: In a previous study we defined motor markers of schizophrenia via a data-driven analysis of patients' gait patterns. In this study, we related the movement markers to measures of basic self-disorder obtained with EASE interviews. We substantiated the correlations with a qualitative content analysis of the interviews of a subset of four patients. We related qualitative and quantitative data on an intra- and interpersonal level. Results: Our results suggest an association between the previously defined, theory-independent movement markers and basic self-disorders, specifically in the domain of cognition, self-experience and bodily experiences. While movement marker manifestation was not precisely reflected in the individuals' descriptions of anomalous self- and body experience, we found clear trends of more and more intense descriptions with increasing movement marker scores, when looking at specific experiences, such as hyper reflexivity. Discussion: These results foster an integrated view of the patient and could stimulate therapeutic approaches aiming at an improvement of self- and body-experience of patients with schizophrenia.