Reframing schizophrenia and autism as self-consciousness disorders associating a deficit of theory of mind and empathy with social communication impairments.
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews August 1, 2019 Sylvie Tordjman, Macarena-Paz Celume, L. Denis et al.
Self-consciousness disorders in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are linked to impairments in body self, which disrupt self-other differentiation, theory of mind, and empathy, leading to social communication difficulties. A proposed model suggests that altered or absent intermodal sensory integration—especially visual-kinesthetic-tactile integration—underlies these bodily self-consciousness disorders. This disruption causes problems distinguishing self from others, which in turn contributes to deficits in theory of mind and empathy and impairs social communication. The model offers new avenues for understanding and developing therapeutic strategies for these conditions.