Understanding Felt Presence in Psychosis

This lecture delves into the concept of 'presence' in the context of psychosis research, exploring the phenomenon of felt presence and its relation to hallucinations. The instructor discusses the various types of presences experienced in psychosis, the challenges in defining them, and the potential overlap with paranoia. Through evidence from clinical examples and research studies, the lecture examines the sensorimotor model of presences and questions the role of affect and identity. Additionally, it explores the prevalence of felt presence in early psychosis and its association with hallucination-proneness and paranoia. The lecture concludes by highlighting the need for multiple models to understand the complex nature of felt presence.