EAWE: Examination of Anomalous World Experience

Abstract

The “EAWE: Examination of Anomalous World Experience” is a detailed semi-structured interview format whose aim is to elicit description and discussion of a person's experience of various aspects of their lived world. The instrument is grounded in the tradition of phenomenological psychopathology and aims to explore, in a qualitatively rich manner, six key dimensions of subjectivity - namely, a person's experience of: (1) Space and objects, (2) Time and events, (3) Other persons, (4) Language (whether spoken or written), (5) Atmosphere (overall sense of reality, familiarity, vitality, meaning, or relevance), and (6) Existential orientation (values, attitudes, and worldviews). The EAWE is based on and primarily directed toward experiences thought to be common in, and sometimes distinctive of, schizophrenia spectrum conditions. It can, however, also be used to investigate anomalies of world experience in other populations. After a theoretical and methodological introduction, the EAWE lists 75 specific items, often with subtypes, in its six domains, together with illustrative quotations from patients. The EAWE appears in a special issue of Psychopathology that also contains an orienting preface (where the difficulty as well as necessity of studying subjective life is acknowledged) and a brief reliability report. Also included are six ancillary or background articles, which survey phenomenologically oriented theory, research, and clinical lore relevant to the six experiential domains.

EAFI: Examination of Anomalous Fantasy and Imagination

“…Therefore, it is always necessary to indicate whether only the main items or the subtypes have been included in the total score. Certain items partly overlap items in the Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience (EASE) [7], the Bonn Scale for the Assessment of Basic Symptoms [8], or the Examination of Anomalous World Experience (EAWE) [9]. We have summarized these overlaps in Appendix B.…”

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

“…Some of these experiences are briefly mentioned in the Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience (EASE) [17], but the area of imagination is not specifically addressed in this instrument or in other instruments addressing anomalous subjective experience, such as the Bonn Scale for the Assessment of Basic Symptoms [18] or the Examination of Anomalous World Experience (EAWE) [19]. It became apparent that a proper exploration required further phenomenological and conceptual clarification of these disturbances.…”

Hyper-réflexivité et perspective en première personne : un apport décisif de la psychopathologie phénoménologique contemporaine à la compréhension de la schizophrénie

“…Citons également l'échelle EAWE (Examination of Anomalous World Experience) [39] qui a pour objectif d'analyser, au-delà de l'expérience du soi, les formes de rapports que le sujet entretient à son environnement (interrogeant le rapport à l'espace, au temps, à l'atmosphère notamment). Outre le fait de structurer la démarche du clinicien tout en respectant la dimension qualitative intrinsèque à cette pratique, cet outil offre l'apport décisif L'échelle EASE, et de façon plus générale la considération en première personne propre au paradigme de la psychopathologie phénoménologique, se révèlent être un des alliés incontournables dans le processus de reconnaissance de la maladie.…”