Further Parameters of Insight and Neuropsychological Deficit in Schizophrenia and Other Chronic Mental Disease.

Young DA; Zakzanis, KK; Baily C;. Davila R; Griese J; Sartory G & Thom A.

Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 186, 44-50. 1998.

Summarized by Dr. Xavier Amador

RELEVANCE FOR EARLY INTERVENTION

This recent study of 108 patients with schizophrenia, found, once again, strong correlations between various tests of frontal lobe function and level of insight. Using the Scale to assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder (SUMD), Young and his colleagues found significant correlations between percent of perseverative errors on the Wisconsin Card Sort Test and overall awareness of illness and attributions for specific symptoms as measured by the SUMD. In this study bipolar patients were also examined using the same methodology, however no significant associations between the insight measure and tests of frontal lobe performance were found. These results replicate previous findings that support the idea that poor insight into illness and resulting treatment refusal stem from a mental defect rather than informed choice in patients with schizophrenia.

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