Evidence that health attributions and symptom severity predict insight in schizophrenia

J Nerv Ment Dis. 2004 Sep;192(9):635-7. doi: 10.1097/01.nmd.0000138318.05729.db.

Abstract

Although a relationship between insight and symptomatology in schizophrenia has been repeatedly demonstrated, the influence of psychological variables such as coping mechanisms and attributional style is less clear. We evaluated health attributions, subjective resources for coping, symptomatology, general cognitive functioning, and insight among 38 consecutive admissions with DSM-III-R schizophrenia from a geographically defined catchment area. Health attributions accounted for a significant amount of insight even after symptom severity was accounted for and together predicted 32% of variation in insight scores. This study emphasizes the multifactorial nature of insight and the importance of psychological variables in addition to symptomatology.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Attitude to Health
  • Cognition*
  • Female
  • Health Status*
  • Humans
  • Internal-External Control*
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Personality Inventory
  • Probability
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Regression Analysis
  • Schizophrenia / diagnosis*
  • Schizophrenic Psychology*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Surveys and Questionnaires