Further Parameters of Insight and Neuropsychological Deficit in Schizophrenia and Other Chronic Mental Disease

Abstract

Evidence has begun to accumulate which suggests that lack of awareness of illness in schizophrenia is related to and possibly the result of a cognitive deficit involving prefrontal cerebral dysfunction. This study further explores this relationship along with other domains of self-awareness in chronic schizophrenics and other subjects with serious mental disorders. One hundred eight schizophrenics and 21 bipolar subjects from three separate sites in Britain, Germany, and Canada were administered the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and three measures of self-awareness. Lack of illness awareness and other domains of self-knowledge were significantly more related to poorer neuropsychological performance in schizophrenia patients than in the other subjects. The results support the hypothesis that lack of illness awareness is related to defective frontal lobe functioning as indexed by neuropsychological measures.

Specificity of Cognitive Deficits in Bipolar Disorder versus Schizophrenia

“…To our knowledge, nineteen studies with available data have compared bipolar patients to schizophrenic patients on this test. Nine studies did not find any difference between the two groups, suggesting that cognitive inflexibility, linked to prefrontal cortical dysfunction, is not specific to SZ [38, 44, 46, 52, 65, 70, 82, 84, 85]. The small effect sizes (range: 0.10–0.44) confirm that the differences between the diagnostic groups are subtle.…”

Spirituality, Coping, and HIV Risk and Prevention in a Sample of Severely Mentally Ill Puerto Rican Women

“…34,35 Cognitive impairments associated with SMI may negatively affect individuals_ ability to make decisions in their own best interest or appropriately weigh the risks versus benefits of specific sexual behaviors. 36 The prevalence of homelessness among SMI persons may be as high as 45%, 37 while the prevalence of HIV infection among SMI homeless persons has been found to be as high as 19%. 38 Sexual relationships in these circumstances are often transient, casual, and may be offered in exchange for shelter and/or food.…”

A Case Review of Poor Insight in Schizophrenia: How Much Do We Know?

“…2 More recently, other theories have emerged, but there remains scientific support for the denial theory -studies have shown a correlation between increased selfdeception and decreased insight in schizophrenia. 14,15 Moreover, multiple studies have established a positive correlation between insight and depression, supporting the theory that insight may be a psychological reaction to mental illness.…”