Awareness of illness and psychosis

Abstract

Introduction

One of the characteristics of Karl Jaspers approach to clinical practice was the importance he gave to the subjective experience by the patient. Patient's self-observation is one of the most important sources of knowledge of the psychic life of the patient. The lack of awareness of illness is quite common in psychotic spectrum.

Aim

The aim of this paper was to examine and compare a group of patients diagnosed with psychosis disorder with another group with other mental disorders, in relation to their mental and emotional suffering,

Sample

The sample was composed by 118 subjects with both sexes. It was divided into two groups: patients with a diagnosis of psychotic disorder and another one with other mental disorders.

Instrument

Inventory SCL-90-R, which evaluating a wide range of psychological and psychopathological symptoms was used.

Statistics analysis

Two groups were compared with respect to perceived psychopathological symptoms.

Results

Statistically significant differences were observed between both groups. Patients with psychotic disorders showed lower scores in most clinical scales. It reflects less emotional suffering and psychological distress perceived in this group against the other. It could be related to the lack of awareness of illness by psychotic patient.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.