International Journal of Education and Psychological Research

(Print and Online Peer Reviewed Journal)


Print - ISSN: 2349 - 0853
e - ISSN: 2279 - 0179

VOLUME 6 - ISSUE 2

(June 2017)

The Relationship of Cognitive Functions and Psychopathology on The Level of Insight in Patients with Schizophrenia


Authors: [1] Hari Vijay [2] Dr. Nandha Kumara Pujam

Pages: 19-24

Abstract:

International Pilot Study of Schizophrenia (IPSS) reported a substantial proportion of patients with schizophrenia (80%) demonstrate poor insight into the illness, irrespective of the cultural variation of patients. Literature shows that there are conflicting findings regarding the relationships between impaired insights, positive and negative symptoms and neurocognition in patients with schizophrenia. The present study aimed to examine ‘The Relationship of Cognitive Functions and Psychopathology on the Level of Insight in Patients with Schizophrenia’. This was a hospital based cross sectional study conducted at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kancheepuram in the Department of Psychiatry / Clinical Psychology and Purposive sampling method was used. The sample comprises 32 patients with Schizophrenia, fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Written informed consent was taken from the patients after explaining the objectives and procedure of the study. Subsequently socio demographic data sheet, Positive and negative syndrome scale(PANSS), Scale for the assessment of unawareness of mental disorder(SUMD), Comprehensive trail making test(CTMT), Wisconsin card sorting test(WCST) and PGI memory scale ( PGI MS) were administered to all patients. Data was analyzed using (SPSS) 16.0 versions. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the relationship between insight, cognitive functions and psychopathology. The result showed a significant positive association between SUMD 2 (awareness of achieved effects of medication) and positive and negative symptoms of PANSS. The study also finds a significant negative relationship between SUMD 2 (awareness of achieved effects of medication) and attention and concentration and recent memory, on the subtests of PGI-MS. However there was no significant relationship between SUMD scores, CTMTand WCSTscores. These findings confirmed the importance of insight in patients with schizophrenia for clinical understanding and management of schizophrenia.