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Insight and psychotic illness. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations.

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Title: Insight and psychotic illness. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations.
Authors: David, Anthony, van Os, Jim, Jones, Peter, Harvey, Ian, Foerster, Alice, Fahy, Thomas, David, A (AUTHOR), van Os, J (AUTHOR), Jones, P (AUTHOR), Harvey, I (AUTHOR), Foerster, A (AUTHOR), Fahy, T (AUTHOR)
Source: British Journal of Psychiatry. Nov95, Vol. 167, p621-628. 8p. 4 Charts.
Subjects: Insight, Mental illness, Pathological psychology, Neuropsychology, Sociodemographic factors, Thought & thinking, Psychoses
Abstract: Background: Insight has recently re-emerged as an important aspect of psychopathology amenable to empirical study. We sought to examine the relationship between various aspects of insight into illness and clinical, sociodemographic and neuropsychological variables.Method: From an inner-London catchment area population, 150 in-patients with recent onset of psychosis were assessed on a variety of measures, including the Present State Examination (PSE). Subjects were followed up for a mean of four years and reassessed.Results: High IQ was associated with better insight as rated on the PSE, while gender, ethnicity and a diagnosis of schizophrenia appeared to be unrelated. At follow-up, similar associations were found, as well as correlations with attitudes to treatment and a more elaborate measure of insight. Cerebral ventricular enlargement and tests of frontal lobe function did not correlate with insight, but there was a curious, strong association with left-handedness at both assessment points. Initial insight correlated significantly but weakly with insight at follow-up.Conclusions: The assessment of insight in psychosis has concurrent validity and is a distinct aspect of psychotic phenomenology. It may, in part, have a neuropsychological basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Description
Abstract:<bold>Background: </bold>Insight has recently re-emerged as an important aspect of psychopathology amenable to empirical study. We sought to examine the relationship between various aspects of insight into illness and clinical, sociodemographic and neuropsychological variables.<bold>Method: </bold>From an inner-London catchment area population, 150 in-patients with recent onset of psychosis were assessed on a variety of measures, including the Present State Examination (PSE). Subjects were followed up for a mean of four years and reassessed.<bold>Results: </bold>High IQ was associated with better insight as rated on the PSE, while gender, ethnicity and a diagnosis of schizophrenia appeared to be unrelated. At follow-up, similar associations were found, as well as correlations with attitudes to treatment and a more elaborate measure of insight. Cerebral ventricular enlargement and tests of frontal lobe function did not correlate with insight, but there was a curious, strong association with left-handedness at both assessment points. Initial insight correlated significantly but weakly with insight at follow-up.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>The assessment of insight in psychosis has concurrent validity and is a distinct aspect of psychotic phenomenology. It may, in part, have a neuropsychological basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00071250
DOI:10.1192/bjp.167.5.621