The phenomena which Kurt Schneider grouped together to form the ego disturbances have always been of particular diagnostic relevance for schizophrenia. While little importance was historically attached to accurately describing and distinguishing psychopathological symptoms, Karl Jaspers' and Kurt Schneider's descriptive psychopathology aims to draw a sharp yet differentiated distinction between psychotic and non-psychotic disorders at the symptom level. New developments in phenomenology including aspects of symptom development are presented. The depersonalization experience is focused on as a transitional phenomenon which is distinguishes from neurotic depersonalization through a disturbed sense of mineness. The ego disturbances indicate that disturbed mineness can be seen as the common denominator of first-rank symptoms of schizophrenia.