background In 1957 Huber introduced the concept ‘cenesthetic schizophrenia’, a subtype of schizophrenia that is characterised primarily by aberrant bodily sensations. Clinical practice shows that patients with schizophrenia frequently suffer from disturbed bodily sensations. Nevertheless, the current icd-10 en dsm-iv classifications pay hardly any attention to symptoms of this kind.
aim To describe the characteristics of cenesthetic schizophrenia.
method We obtained background information from historical literature and the PubMed database. We also report a case-study in which a patient experienced atypical physical symptoms which closely resembled those that characterised Huber’s cenesthetic schizophrenia.
results Huber’s description led to new insights into the development and course of schizophrenia where the main focus was on the patient’s subjectively experienced symptomatology. Both the background literature and the case-study show that the time has come for a revaluation of cenesthetic schizophrenia.
conclusion We recommend that cenesthetic schizophrenia be included as a subtype within the spectrum of schizophrenia. Further longitudinal research is needed into other characteristics of this type of schizophrenia, its etiopathogenesis and the currently available therapeutical options.