The role of knowledge and motivation in symptom identification accuracy among schizophrenic patients: application of signal detection theory.
OBJECTIVE
Many people with schizophrenia have poor awareness of their symptoms, a problem that may result from lack of knowledge about their illness and/or unwillingness to acknowledge it. The present study assessed the joint influence of lack of knowledge and motivated denial in schizophrenic patients' low symptom awareness.


METHODS
Schizophrenic patients (N = 85) and normal control participants (N = 35) identified psychotic symptoms and general stress symptoms in a symptom checklist. The signal detection theory was applied to assess levels of sensitivity (which would be knowledge-mediated) and judgment biases (which would probably be motivated).


RESULTS
Compared with normal control participants, schizophrenic patients had lower sensitivity and greater aversion to classify a symptom as a psychotic symptom.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that both lack of knowledge and motivated denial are involved in schizophrenic patients' low symptom awareness.
Wong
Agatha W S
AW
University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. agathaws@graduate.hku.hk
Chiu
Chi-Yue
CY
Mok
Jessica W Y
JW
Wong
Josephine G W S
JG
Chen
Eric Y H
EY
D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D003717:Denial, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012803:Sick Role; D017603:Signal Detection, Psychological