Patients With Schizophrenia Are Commonly Unaware of Signs and Symptoms Associated With Their Disease

In a sample of 221 patients with schizophrenia, insight into various symptoms was measured using a shortened version of the Scale to assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder scale.

At least 1 of the following positive or negative symptoms had to be currently present to at least a mild degree to be included: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, flat affect, poverty of speech, or passive, apathetic social withdrawal.

57.4% of patients with schizophrenia showed a moderate to severe lack of awareness of having a mental disorder. 31.5% had severe unawareness of the social consequences of mental disorder. 21.7% had severe unawareness of the efficacy of medication. Patients were unaware of 28%-58% of individual symptoms.

Reference:
Amador XF, Flaum M, Andreasen NC, et al. Awareness of illness in schizophrenia and schizoaffective and mood disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1994; 51(10): 826-836.