Background: The prevalence of insight was examined longitudinally in psychotic patients with schizophrenia (n = 86), bipolar disorder (n = 52), major depressive disorder (n = 35) and other psychoses (n = 16).
Method: Before discharge and at 6-month follow-up, insight in first-admission patients from 10 facilities in Suffolk County, New York was rated as part of a modified Hamilton Depression Scale.
Results: Initially, 80% of depressives but approximately half with other diagnoses manifested insight. At follow-up, most patients demonstrated insight except for the schizophrenic patients. After controlling for diagnosis, significant correlates of baseline insight were being married, hospitalized in a community or academic facility, intelligence and negative symptoms. At follow-up, after controlling for diagnosis and baseline insight, prior treatment was predictive. This finding held for schizophrenic patients separately.
Conclusion: Lack of insight is more prevalent in schizophrenia and improves over time. The components of prior treatment leading to better insight should be explored.