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Subjective space and time experience in schizophrenia spectrum disorders and mood disorders: psychometric properties and clinical correlates of the semi-structured STEP interview

Background - Altered experiences of space and time are core features of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) and mood disorders (MOD). In this study, we investigated whether patients with SSD and MOD exhibit shared or distinct patterns of subjective spatiotemporal experience. - Methods - We examin...

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Main Authors: Daub, Jonas (Author) , Volkmer, Sebastian (Author) , Akkoc Altinok, Dilsa Cemre (Author) , Brandt, Geva A. (Author) , Kukovic, Jacqueline (Author) , Fritze, Stefan (Author) , Lechner, Stephan (Author) , Northoff, Georg (Author) , Meyer-Lindenberg, Andreas (Author) , Hirjak, Dusan (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: October 2026
In: Schizophrenia research
Year: 2026, Volume: 296, Pages: 208-217
ISSN:1573-2509
DOI:10.1016/j.schres.2026.07.014
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2026.07.014
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0920996426002239
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Author Notes:Jonas Daub, Sebastian Volkmer, Dilsa Cemre Akkoc Altinok, Geva A. Brandt, Jacqueline Kukovic, Stefan Fritze, Stephan Lechner, Georg Northoff, Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, Dusan Hirjak
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Summary:Background - Altered experiences of space and time are core features of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) and mood disorders (MOD). In this study, we investigated whether patients with SSD and MOD exhibit shared or distinct patterns of subjective spatiotemporal experience. - Methods - We examined 62 ICD-11 patients (33 SSD, 29 MOD) using the Scale for Space and Time Experience in Psychosis (STEP). We also administered the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP), and the Trail Making Test B (TMTB). Different statistical analyses including linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were used to compare groups, assess STEP's discriminatory power, and explore associations with demographic and clinical characteristics. - Results - STEP showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.89 for 7-day and α = 0.93 for lifetime scores). Lifetime, but not 7-day, STEP scores differed significantly between SSD and MOD patients (multivariate group effect: p = 0.004). SSD patients reported more pronounced disturbances in time fragmentation, future premonitions, time synthesis, and spatial disorientation, whereas MOD patients more frequently reported a past-dominated experience of time and reduced intentionality toward the external world. Furthermore, 7-day and lifetime STEP scores were strongly correlated in SSD (ρ = 0.619, p < 0.001) and moderately correlated in MOD (ρ = 0.378, p = 0.043). - Conclusion - The STEP interview provides a reliable assessment of subjective disturbances in space and time experience. Distinct spatiotemporal profiles were identified in SSD and MOD, particularly in lifetime assessments. These findings support the relevance of subjective spatiotemporal experience as a transdiagnostic dimension of psychopathology while highlighting disorder-specific differences that warrant further longitudinal investigation.
Item Description:Online verfügbar: 23. Juli 2026, Artikelversion: 23. Juli 2026
Gesehen am 24.08.2026
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1573-2509
DOI:10.1016/j.schres.2026.07.014

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