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Schizophrenia Bulletin, 17:113-132, 1991.
Amador XF; Strauss DH; Yale SA & Gorman JM.
This paper reviews the extant literature on insight into illness in schizophrenia. The authors argue for a reassessment of the problem and consensus on terminology and measurement with the stated goal of stimulating scientific research. Furthermore, they argue that poor insight in patients with schizophrenia may be due to brain dysfunction. They point out numerous similarities between poor insight in patients with schizophrenia and anosognosia (a neurological syndrome characterized by unawareness of illness) in neurological patients. They conclude by offering guidelines for terminology and research.
REVIEW ARTICLE
Ghaemi NS & Pope HG, Jr. Lack of Insight in Psychotic and Affective Disorders : A Review of Empirical Studies. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, May/June: 22-33, 1994.
This paper reviews the literature on insight in affective psychoses. The authors remark that relatively little work has been done with this patient group when compared to patients with schizophrenia. Nevertheless, as in schizophrenia, studies of affective disorders find that lower levels of insight are correlated with a poorer course of illness, lack of adherence to treatment and involuntary hospitalizations. The authors also conclude that level of insight is also a trait, unrelated to other signs of illness, in many patients.
EDITED BOOK
Amador XF & David A, Eds. Insight and Psychosis. Edited volume, Oxford University Press, 1997.
In this book the neurological basis of deficits in illness
awareness is the focus of several chapters. In addition, data indicating that lower levels
of insight are associated with poorer illness course, increased exacerbations of illness,
greater number and longer duration of hospitalizations and non adherence to treatment are
reviewed. The role poor insight might play in violent behaviors is also discussed at
length.
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