EAFI: Examination of Anomalous Fantasy and Imagination

Rasmussen, Andreas Rosén; Stephensen, Helene; Parnas, Josef

doi:10.1159/000488464

Cited by 23 publications

(17 citation statements)

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“…All patients were assessed with a composite interview schedule used in several studies in our group [ 52 , 58 ] consisting of the following elements: a thorough psychosocial history, a description of the illness evolution, the Operational Criteria Checklist (OPCRIT) [ 45 ] (a short version of the Present State Examination [ 84 ]) expanded with additional items from the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS-L) [ 20 ], Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) [ 33 ], the Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience (EASE) [ 61 ], the perceptual section of the Bonn Scale for the Assessment of Basic Symptoms (BSABS) [ 27 ] and a mental state examination targeting expressive features (e.g., affect modulation, stereotypies, mannerisms and formal thought disorder) [ 81 ]. Subjective anomalies of fantasy life and imagination were assessed with the Examination of Anomalous Fantasy and Imagination (EAFI) [ 71 ] and have been reported elsewhere [ 69 ]. The Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) [ 25 ] and the split version of the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) [ 21 ] were also rated.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Schizophrenia-spectrum psychopathology in obsessive–compulsive disorder: an empirical study

Rasmussen

Nordgaard

Parnas

2019

Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci

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The differential diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders can be difficult. In the current diagnostic criteria, basic concepts such as obsession and delusion overlap. This study examined lifetime schizophrenia-spectrum psychopathology, including subtle schizotypal symptomatology and subjective anomalies such as self-disorders, in a sample diagnosed with OCD in a specialized setting. The study also examined the differential diagnostic potential of the classic psychopathological notions of true obsession ('with resistance') and pseudo-obsession. The study involved 42 outpatients diagnosed with OCD at two clinics specialized in the treatment of OCD. The patients underwent semi-structured, narrative interviews assessing a comprehensive battery of psychopathological instruments. The final lifetime research-diagnosis was based on a consensus between a senior clinical psychiatrist and an experienced research clinician. The study found that 29% of the patients fulfilled criteria of schizophrenia or another non-affective psychosis as main, lifetime DSM-5 research-diagnosis. Another 33% received a research-diagnosis of schizotypal personality disorder, 10% a research-diagnosis of major depression and 29% a main research-diagnosis of OCD. Self-disorders aggregated in the schizophrenia-spectrum groups. True obsessions had a specificity of 93% and a sensitivity of 58% for a main diagnosis of OCD. In conclusion, a high proportion of clinically diagnosed OCD patients fulfilled diagnostic criteria of a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder. The conspicuous obsessive-compulsive symptomatology may have resulted in a disregard of psychotic symptoms and other psychopathology. Furthermore, the differentiation of obsessions from related psychopathological phenomena is insufficient and a conceptual and empirical effort in this domain is required in the future.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Schizophrenia-spectrum psychopathology in obsessive–compulsive disorder: an empirical study

Rasmussen

Nordgaard

Parnas

2019

Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci

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“…This hypothesis is based on the idea that imagination has the same status as all other modes of intentional consciousness (e.g., perceiving or remembering). These authors have also developed a psychometric instrument: Examination of Anomalous Fantasy and Imagination (EAFI) [2]. This tool allows semistructured phenomenological exploration of disorders of imagination with good psychometric qualities [19] and diagnostic discrimination of schizophrenia and schizotypal disorder [20].…”

Section: Psychopathology Of Imaginationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This dimension is obliterated in the new classifications of mental disorders in cognitive neurosciences and psychology (RDoC/ HiTOP) which is an impediment to research and psycho-Psychopathology 2020;53:264-273 DOI: 10.1159/000509488 therapy. Rasmussen et al [1] have developed an instrument for a semistructured phenomenological exploration of anomalous fantasy and imagination [2], opening up the possibility for description and discussion. These disorders are characterized by 3 phenomenological dimensions: (1) perceptualization of imagery: the experience acquires certain quasi-perceptual qualities such as spatialization, spatiotemporal constancy, and explorability;…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This dimension is obliterated in the new classifications of mental disorders in cognitive neurosciences and psychology (RDoC/HiTOP) which is an impediment to research and psychotherapy. Rasmussen et al [1] have developed an instrument for a semistructured phenomenological exploration of anomalous fantasy and imagination [2], opening up the possibility for description and discussion. These disorders are characterized by 3 phenomenological dimensions: (1) perceptualization of imagery: the experience acquires certain quasi-perceptual qualities such as spatialization, spatiotemporal constancy, and explorability; (2) autonomization of imagery with a quasi-involuntary flow and a sense of experiential distance between the conscious image and sense of agency; and (3) erosion of irreality: whereas the imagination is normally lived with an ever-present character of unreality, persons with SSDs could experience vivid imagery without a clear separation with the real world.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Imagination and Self Disorders in Schizophrenia: A Review

Gozé

Fazakas

2020

Psychopathology

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Anomalies of imagination are frequent and handicapping in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) but neglected in psychopathology due to the lack of a conceptual framework to model disorders of imagination. Recently, the link between minimal self disorders and pathology of imagination has been emphasized. The aim of the present article is to discuss this initiative by stressing their paradigm drawing on the recent imaginary turn in phenomenological research. Although this field of research is currently very active in philosophy, there are very few translational approaches in psychopathology or cognitive sciences. In this paper, we examine how contemporary research concerning fantasy and imagination can lead to the elaboration of an epistemological and phenomenological framework for schizophrenia research. We first examine the psychopathological literature on anomalous fantasy and imagination in SSDs. Then we propose an exhaustive overview of the imaginary turn of philosophical phenomenology. Further, we examine the theoretical and practical implications of such a recasting of phenomenological research. We show how fantasy and imagination are involved in the embodiment process, and how identity and imagination are interlinked. Finally, we propose an overview of the possible implications for the understanding of psychotherapeutic processes and recovery strategies.

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“…Additionally, we provide data of the interrater reliability and internal consistency. The EAFI is published as a twin paper by Rasmussen et al [5]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Phenomenological Approach to Psychopathology of Imagination: Development of a Descriptive Instrument – Examination of Anomalous Fantasy and Imagination

et al. 2018

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This paper serves as an introduction to the Examination of Anomalous Fantasy and Imagination (EAFI) – a novel instrument for a semistructured, phenomenological exploration of psychopathology of imagination. We present an account of the phenomenology of imagination and proceed to a presentation of the disorders of imagination that are addressed in the EAFI. Furthermore, the interrater reliability of the EAFI was examined in a diagnostically heterogeneous sample of 20 in-patients. The interrater agreement ranged from 0.6 to 1.0, with an average κ of 0.84. The internal consistency of the EAFI as measured by Cronbach’s α was above 0.88. We suggest that the anomalies of imagination explored by the EAFI reflect an alteration of the structure of consciousness and belong to a fundamental, generative layer of psychopathology. These disorders may have relevance for differential diagnostic purposes, especially in first-contact, young patients.

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EAFI: Examination of Anomalous Fantasy and Imagination

Cited by 23 publications

References 9 publications

Schizophrenia-spectrum psychopathology in obsessive–compulsive disorder: an empirical study

Schizophrenia-spectrum psychopathology in obsessive–compulsive disorder: an empirical study

Imagination and Self Disorders in Schizophrenia: A Review

A Phenomenological Approach to Psychopathology of Imagination: Development of a Descriptive Instrument – Examination of Anomalous Fantasy and Imagination

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