Insight, symptomatic dimensions, and cognition in patients with acute-phase psychosis.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between insight and the severity of psychotic symptomatology in a sample of patients in an acute phase of psychosis, as well as to analyze the relationship between insight and the symptomatic profile of the patient. In addition, the role of general cognitive abilities in this relationship was explored.


METHODS
Cross-sectional observational study of 96 acute psychotic adults. To evaluate psychopathology we used the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale; for insight, the Scale of Unawareness of Mental Disorder; and for general cognitive abilities, the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry.


RESULTS
Insight showed significant and moderate positive correlations with positive and general symptoms but not with negative symptoms. In the subgroup with positive symptomatic profile, awareness of the disorder and of the effects of medication were positively associated with severity of positive and general psychotic symptoms. Awareness of social consequences of the disease was positively associated with positive symptoms. In the subgroup with a negative symptomatic profile, awareness of the disorder and of the effects of medication were positively associated with severity of positive and general psychotic symptoms. In this subgroup, these relationships were significantly affected by general cognitive abilities.


CONCLUSIONS
Insight was not related with the severity of negative psychotic symptoms. The symptomatic profile of subjects played an important role in determining the relationship between insight and its dimensions and the severity of psychotic symptoms. Cognitive function moderated these relationships only in the negative symptomatic profile.
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Psychopathology and Neuropsychology Research Unit, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain. nietoglourdes@gmail.com
Lourdes
L
Nieto
Jesús
J
Cobo
Esther
E
Pousa
José
J
Blas-Navarro
Gemma
G
García-Parés
Diego
D
Palao
Jordi E
JE
Obiols
D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D013030:Spain