Insight in first-admission psychotic patients.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of insight was examined longitudinally in psychotic patients with schizophrenia (n = 86), bipolar disorder (n = 52), major depressive disorder (n = 35) and other psychoses (n = 16).


METHODS
Before discharge and at 6-month follow-up, insight in first-admission patients from 10 facilities in Suffolk County, New York was rated as part of a modified Hamilton Depression Scale.


RESULTS
Initially, 80% of depressives but approximately half with other diagnoses manifested insight. At follow-up, most patients demonstrated insight except for the schizophrenic patients. After controlling for diagnosis, significant correlates of baseline insight were being married, hospitalized in a community or academic facility, intelligence and negative symptoms. At follow-up, after controlling for diagnosis and baseline insight, prior treatment was predictive. This finding held for schizophrenic patients separately.


CONCLUSIONS
Lack of insight is more prevalent in schizophrenia and improves over time. The components of prior treatment leading to better insight should be explored.
Fennig
S
S
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, State University of New York at Stony Brook 11794-8790, USA.
Everett
E
E
Bromet
E J
EJ
Jandorf
L
L
Fennig
S R
SR
Tanenberg-Karant
M
M
Craig
T J
TJ
D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012803:Sick Role