title: Cognitive insight in schizophrenia patients and their biological parents: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical insight in schizophrenia patients is partly associated with familial environment but has been poorly studied to date. We aimed to explore (1) the relationship between parents' cognitive insight and their offspring's; (2) the relationship between parents' cognitive insight and their clinical insight into the disease of their offspring; and (3) the clinical and cognitive determinants of cognitive insight in parents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cognitive insight was assessed in 37 patient-biological parent pairs/dyads with the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS). Other measures included the Scale to assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder and cognitive assessments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no significant association between parents' cognitive insight and their offspring's. Conversely, a positive association between parents' cognitive insight and parents' insight into their offspring's symptoms was found. Better awareness of their offspring's specific symptoms was associated with lower levels of overconfidence in one's beliefs and with BCIS total score. BCIS Self-Certainty and BCIS total score were associated with better executive functioning and verbal comprehension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Better insight into their offspring's symptoms is associated with cognitive insight in biological parents of schizophrenia patients. Our results support the integration of cognitive intervention targeting parents' cognitive flexibility in family psychoeducational programs and provide an important first step towards developing a more refined understanding of the factors involved in insight into symptoms of illness in parents of schizophrenia patients.
authors.affiliation: Epsylon Laboratory Dynamic of Human Abilities & Health Behaviors, University of Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France; University Department of Adult Psychiatry, Hôpital de la Colombière, CHRU Montpellier, France. Electronic address: s-raffard@chu-montpellier.fr.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raffard
authors.affiliation: Epsylon Laboratory Dynamic of Human Abilities & Health Behaviors, University of Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France; University Department of Adult Psychiatry, Hôpital de la Colombière, CHRU Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bortolon
authors.affiliation: University Department of Adult Psychiatry, Hôpital de la Colombière, CHRU Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Macgregor
authors.affiliation: Epsylon Laboratory Dynamic of Human Abilities & Health Behaviors, University of Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.affiliation: University Department of Adult Psychiatry, Hôpital de la Colombière, CHRU Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Boulenger
authors.affiliation: Epsylon Laboratory Dynamic of Human Abilities & Health Behaviors, University of Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Haj
authors.affiliation: University Department of Adult Psychiatry, Hôpital de la Colombière, CHRU Montpellier, France; INSERM U-1061, Montpellier, France; University Montpellier 1, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Capdevielle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D032882:Comprehension / Q000502:physiology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Biological parents; Clinical insight; Cognitive insight; Offspring