Aims. Insight, positive and negative symptoms, hope, depression and self-stigma are relevant variables in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. So far, research on their mutual influences has been patchy. This study simultaneously tests the associations between these variables. Methods. A total of 284 people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were assessed using the Schedule for the Assessment of Insight, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Integrative Hope Scale, Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale. Path analysis was applied to test the hypothesized relationships between the variables. Results. Model support was excellent. Strong and mutual causal influences were confirmed between hope, depression and self-stigma. The model supported the assumption that insight diminishes hope and increases depression and self-stigma. While negative symptoms directly affected these three variables, reducing hope and increasing depression and self-stigma, positive symptoms did not. However, positive symptoms diminished self-stigma on a pathway via insight. Conclusions. This study provides a comprehensive synopsis of the relationships between six variables relevant for schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Research implications include the need to investigate determinants of consequences of insight, and the sequence of influences exerted by positive and negative symptoms. Clinical implications include the importance of interventions against self-stigma and of taking a contextualized approach to insight.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

IntroductionHope is considered as an important factor in recovery from severe mental illness. So far it has been studied in patients with depression, anxiety disorders and post traumatic stress disorder, whereas empirical studies involving people with psychosis are scarce and their results are inconclusive.AimWe aimed at evaluating the relationship between(i) hope and positive as well as negative psychotic symptoms and(ii) hope and depression in people with psychosis.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study 148 patients with schizophrenia and schizo-affective disorder were interviewed by a psychologist who rated the positive and negative symptoms on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Hope and depression were measured using the self-assessment scales Integrative Hope Scale (IHS) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).ResultsNo statistically significant correlation was found between hope and positive symptoms (r = .071, p = .414). Hope and negative symptoms, however, showed a statistically significant negative correlation (r = -.196, p = .023), as did hope and depression (r = -.255, p = .003). This latter relationship remained significant after controlling for negative symptoms in a partial correlation (r = -.216, p = .013).ConclusionWhile hope appears unrelated to positive symptoms, a significant correlation with negative symptoms and depression was found. These results emphasise the potential importance of hope as a target variable to support recovery in patients with psychosis. However, prospective studies are needed to clarify the causal relationships between hope and symptoms of psychotic disorders.