Insight and symptom change in schizophrenia and other disorders.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to evaluate levels of insight and change in insight in subjects with schizophrenia and other major psychiatric disorders. This study also evaluated the relationship of insight to acute psychopathology.


METHODS
One-hundred and eighty-seven subjects consecutively admitted to an acute care psychiatric unit and who met DSM-III-R criteria were evaluated by the Insight and Treatment Attitudes Questionnaire and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale on admission and discharge. Relationships of insight to diagnosis, involuntary commitment status and change in insight were evaluated with analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey's Standardized Range test. Relationships of change in insight and symptoms were evaluated with analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and correlation.


RESULTS
Insight deficits were more prevalent in schizophrenia, a mixed group of other psychosis and bipolar disorder as compared with major depressive and schizoaffective disorder. Committed patients had lower insight. Insight improved across diagnoses during hospital care in both voluntary and committed patients. Significant relationships between improved symptoms and improved insight were obtained in the bipolar, schizophrenia and major depressive groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Insight deficits are prevalent in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Many patients show improved insight as their acute symptoms improve. Some aspects of insight are state related during exacerbation of illness in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Weiler
M A
MA
Creighton-Nebraska, Department of Psychiatry, Omaha, NE, USA. mweiler@umaryland.edu
Fleisher
M H
MH
McArthur-Campbell
D
D
D000208:Acute Disease; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires