LACK OF INSIGHT AMONG OUTPATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

Objective: This study investigated the prevalence of lack of insight a mong outpatients with schizophrenia and the relationship between lack of insight and other variables, including whether patients received pr ofessional residential supervision. Methods: A total of 87 stable outp atients with schizophrenia were drawn from community programs in a pub lic-private mental health system. Subjects' clinical symptoms and insi ght about their illness were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, a battery of neuropsychological tests, and the Social Functioning Scale. Results: The illness insight of 43 subjects, or 49. 5 percent, was at least moderately impaired. Twenty-one subjects, or 2 5 percent, had severe insight deficits. In a multiple regression analy sis, 40 percent of the variance in lack of insight was predicted by ra tings of the severity of delusions, difficulty with abstract thinking, lack of social activities, and absence of anxiety. Patients who recei ved professional residential supervision had more impaired insight tha n those living independently or with family. Conclusions: Insight defi cits are common among stable outpatients engaged in community-based ca re. These deficits have implications for patients' use of limited serv ices such as residential supervision.