title: [Self-experience in the early phase of psychosis: a phenomenological approach].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The early detection of psychotic disorders is seen to be increasingly important. Authors of recent articles are adopting a phenomenological approach, taking the view that changes in self-experience represent a major prodromal feature of psychotic disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To find out what a phenomenological approach can contribute to the study of the early phase of psychotic disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  We discuss the literature that explores to what extent changes in self-experience are a central phenomenon in the prodromal phase of psychotic disorders. We also present a phenomenological model that explains these changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Characteristic changes in self-experience during the prodromal phase of psychotic disorders can provide the framework for an empirical, phenomenological explanatory model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In an empirical, phenomenological approach early changes in a patient&rsquo;s self-experience are considered to play a central role. There are some indications that semi-structured interviews focusing on changes in a patient&rsquo;s self-experience can contribute to the early detection of psychotic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Nederlands Instituut voor Forensische Psychiatrie en Psychologie, Utrecht. G.vd.Kraats@dji.minjus.nl
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: van de Kraats
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: de Haan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meynen
mesh_terms: D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D055815:Young Adult