Altered experiences of time and space are linked to general symptoms and basic self-disorders in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Self-disturbance acts as a key mediator through which fundamental time-space disruptions influence perceptual changes as well as negative, positive, and general symptoms. Data were collected at three medical expert centers using semi-structured phenomenological interviews and analyzed with network and mediation methods.
Patients with schizophrenia often experience fragmented time and distorted spatial perception, such as abnormal interpersonal distance and orientation, which can detach them from reality and complicate therapy. Despite this, these experiences remain understudied due to a lack of standardized measurement tools. Based on spatiotemporal psychopathology (STPP), a clinical rating scale called the Scale for Space and Time Experience in Psychosis (STEP) was developed. The German version of STEP assesses 14 spatial and 11 temporal phenomena across 25 items. It demonstrates high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.94) and significant correlation with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS; p < 0.001), offering a valuable instrument for German-speaking countries.