A self-report Insight Scale for psychosis: reliability, validity and sensitivity to change

Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1994 Jan;89(1):62-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1994.tb01487.x.

Abstract

Lack of insight is a frequent concomitant of psychosis and has traditionally been viewed as a binary, all or none phenomenon. Recent conceptualization has formulated insight as a continuum representing the juxtaposition of 3 factors--awareness of illness, need for treatment and attribution of symptoms. Measurement of insight has been exclusively based on interview; this method does not easily lend itself to frequent repeated measurement and requires interrater reliability to be established. A self-report Insight Scale is presented, and evidence in support of its reliability, validity and sensitivity is provided that includes a sample of 30 patients monitored during recovery from an acute psychosis. The scale is a quick and acceptable measure that may find application in investigations of acute care, cognitive therapy of psychotic symptoms and as a method of augmenting clinical judgements of insight.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Awareness* / drug effects
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Admission
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / statistics & numerical data*
  • Psychometrics
  • Psychotic Disorders / diagnosis
  • Psychotic Disorders / psychology*
  • Psychotic Disorders / rehabilitation
  • Recurrence
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sick Role*

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents