A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF INSIGHT SCALES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL-VARIABLES

Background. Research on the subject of insight has been hampered by di fficulties in definition and reliable measurement. Methods. We compare d several rating scales to measure insight on a group of 33 psychotic patients as well as assessing patients' psychopathology, clinical char acteristics and cognitive functioning. Results. Most currently used sc ales showed a high degree of inter-correlation. Measures of insight re lated strongly to the presence of delusions; grandiosity (inversely), and depression (positively). Higher insight scores correlated with ind ices of treatment compliance and inversely with substance abuse. Measu res of pre-morbid IQ and impaired executive functioning, including the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test were not associated with poor insight. Co nclusions. The study highlights aspects of psychopathology and clinica l variables particularly related to insight and supports the continued use of standardized scales in further research in this area.