Predictors of insight in patients with schizophrenia

Abstract

Aim

To establish predictors of insight in patients with schizophrenia with regard to symptoms severity, executive functioning, level of education, marital status, age, and number of hospitalizations.

Subjects and methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 consecutive outpatients with schizophrenia. Positive symptoms were established with 4-item Positive Symptom Ranking Scale (PSRS), and negative symptoms with Brief Negative Symptoms Assessment (BNSA). The level of insight was established with Self-Appraisal of Illness Questionnaire (SAIQ). Executive functions were established with Wisconsin card sorting test, and three verbal subtests from Wechler's Intelligence Test: information, similarities, and calculating. All neuropsychological tests were administered by psychologist educated in administration of these and other neuropsychological tools.

Results

Predictive statistical model identifies age and illness duration as negative, and higher level of education, and being married as a positive predictors of insight with 38.5% variance explained. Scores on subscales “Similarities” and “Calculating” had positive association with insight score. Model explains 24.7% of variance. When model was adjusted on alpha 5% level of concluding only three significant positive predictors appears: higher level of education, higher score on “Similarities” subscale, and being married. Model explains 38.5% of variance.

Conclusion

Level of education and marital status, among all other factors, have important impact on level of insight in patients with schizophrenia.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.