Comparative profiles of anomalous self-experiences and social cognition in clinical high risk for psychosis and autism spectrum disorder.
Schizophr Res Cogn June 11, 2026 Kristina Ballestad Gundersen, Tina Dam Kristensen, Alberte C.E. Jeppesen et al.
People at clinical high risk for psychosis and those with autism spectrum disorder both report unusual self-experiences, such as a diminished sense of self or altered bodily awareness, but the patterns differ between the two groups. The study compared these anomalous self-experiences and social cognition in both groups. It found that while both groups showed elevated levels of anomalous self-experiences compared to controls, the clinical high-risk group had more pronounced disturbances in self-awareness and agency, whereas the autism group showed greater impairments in social cognition, such as understanding others' mental states. These findings suggest that anomalous self-experiences may be a specific marker for psychosis risk, distinct from the social cognitive difficulties characteristic of autism.