The relationship between insight and psychosis in State patients with schizophrenia

Objective. State patients committed under the Mental Health Act must have i nsight into their illness and the crime they committed before they can be d ischarged. Patients with schizophrenia are described as having poor insight into the nature and severity of their disorder. Various factors influence insight, and in some studies level of insight seems to correlate with level of psychopathology, In this study insight was measured in State patients w ith schizophrenia and re-evaluated after 2 months. Level of insight was com pared with level of psychopathology. Method. 34 patients with schizophrenia were evaluated twice to determine th eir level of insight and psychopathology. The following factors were consid ered: duration of hospitalisation, duration of illness, age of onset of ill ness, and level of functioning before admission. Results. Insight improved slightly over the 2-month period, showing weak co rrelation with psychopathology. Negative insight, insight regarding mental illness and the use of medication and attribution of past illness were good . Conclusion. Insight should be viewed as being multidimensional, with variou s factors influencing it. Level of insight plays an important role in the t reatment programme of patients with schizophrenia.