Anomalous self-experiences in biotypes of psychosis
Luis Sobrino-Conde, Antonio Arjona, Emma Osorio-Iriarte, Rosa Beño-ruiz de la Sierra, Claudia Rodríguez-valbuena, Juan Carlos Fiorini-Talavera, Marta Hernández-garcía, Vicente Molina
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience June 5, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-026-02257-3 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPeople with psychosis can be grouped into biotypes based on underlying pathological features rather than traditional diagnostic categories. One biotype (cluster 1) involves severe cognitive deficits, while another (cluster 2) involves moderate cognitive deficits. In a study of 113 patients, those in cluster 1 reported significantly more anomalous self-experiences—disturbances in the sense of self—than both healthy controls and cluster 2 patients. Cluster 2 patients showed only slight differences from controls. These findings suggest that severe disruptions in self-experience are a key feature of the biotype characterized by marked cognitive impairment, brain structure changes, and higher negative symptoms.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 113 |
| Population | Patients with psychotic disorders classified into biotype clusters 1 and 2 |
| Keywords | Cognition Psychosis Pathological Schizophrenia object-oriented programming Cluster spacecraft |
| Key finding | Cluster 1 patients (severe cognitive deficit) showed significantly higher anomalous self-experience scores than healthy controls and cluster 2 patients. |
Abstract
Biotypes of psychoses represent transdiagnostic clusters based on pathological characteristics relevant to this syndrome. This approach seeks to help with the delimitation of groups with external validity within the psychotic syndrome beyond current categories. Our group has previously proposed two biotypes characterized by different cognitive performance and anatomical and functional alterations. Here, we propose that these groups may also differ in the presence and/or severity of anomalous self-experiences. We included 113 patients with psychotic disorders, classified as biotypes into clusters 1 (n = 30, with severe cognitive deficit) and 2 (n = 83, with moderate cognitive deficit) according to criteria established in previous studies (Comparelli et al in Compr Psychiatry 65:44-49, 2016) and (Nelson et al in Schizophr Res 152:20-27) healthy controls. The Inventory of Psychotic-Like Anomalous Self-Experiences (IPASE) was used to score anomalous self-experiences. Cluster 1 patients (severe cognitive impairment) showed significantly higher IPASE scores than healthy controls and Cluster 2 patients, whereas differences between Cluster 2 patients and healthy controls were less pronounced. We conclude that severe anomalous self-experiences characterize the biotype 1 of psychoses, alongside marked cognitive deficits, anatomical alterations, functional basal hyperactivity and higher negative symptoms scores.