Impaired self-reflection in psychiatric disorders among adults: a proposal for the existence of a network of semi independent functions.
Self-reflection plays a key role in healthy human adaptation. Self-reflection might involve different capacities which may be impaired to different degrees relatively independently of one another. Variation in abilities for different forms of self-reflection are commonly seen as key aspects of many adult mental disorders. Yet little has been written about whether there are different kinds of deficits in self-reflection found in mental illness, how those deficits should be distinguished from one another and how to characterize the extent to which they are interrelated. We review clinical and experimental literature and suggest four different forms of deficits in self-reflection: (a) sense of ownership of one's own thoughts and actions, (b) emotional awareness, (c) distinction between fantasy and reality and (d) the integration of a range of different views of oneself and others. We propose how these different impairments in self-reflection are linked with one another.
Dimaggio
Giancarlo
G
Terzo Centro di Psicoterapia Cognitiva - Training School in Psychotherapy Associazione di Psicologia Cognitiva, Via Ravenna 9/C, 00161 Rome, Italy. gdimaje@libero.it
Vanheule
Stijn
S
Lysaker
Paul H
PH
Carcione
Antonino
A
Nicolò
Giuseppe
G
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001364:Awareness; D003469:Culture; D004644:Emotions; D005201:Fantasy; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007389:Internal-External Control; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D018187:Personal Construct Theory; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011936:Reality Testing; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D013850:Thinking