Insight in schizophrenia. Its relationship to acute psychopathology

Joseph P. McEvoy, L. Joy Apperson, Paul S. Appelbaum, Priscilla Ortlip, Joyce Brecosky, Kathleen Hammill, Jeffrey L. Geller, Loren Roth

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

492 Scopus citations

Abstract

The relationship between insight and acute psychopathology was explored in a group of 52 acutely psychotic, schizophrenic patients. A measure of insight, reflecting patients’ recognition of their illness and need for care, was validated against ratings from a semi-structured interview and against assessments of patients’ compliance with medication. Contrary to expectations, degree of insight was not consistently related to the severity of acute psychopathology, as measured on two structured scales. Nor did changes in insight during hospitalization vary consistently with changes in acute psychopathology. These data suggest that very little of the deficiency in insight seen in schizophrenic patients is explainable on the basis of acute psychopathological features. The mechanism that accounts for impairment in insight in schizophrenia may be relatively resistant to treatment with neuroleptic medication.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)43-47
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Nervous and Mental Disease
Volume177
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1989
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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