Publication:

A comparative study of cognitive insight in schizophrenia patients with and without depression

Background Lack of insight has been linked to disorganized symptoms or symptoms of formal thought disorder which is often seen in schizophrenia. The main aim of our study was to assess cognitive insight in patients of schizophrenia with and without depression and relation of cognitive insight with psychopathology of schizophrenia.

Methods The Present study was carried out on 60 patients in both groups. After randomization, assessment of Socio demographic details was done with the help of semi-structured performa.

Results There was no significant difference was found in both groups in socio demographic data. Better cognitive insight was found in schizophrenia patients with depression. The cognitive insight and psychopathology were not found significantly correlated to the age of the patient, age of onset of the illness and the total duration of the illness. There was significant difference among groups in relation to the PANSS-P, PANSS-G, with cognitive insight SR, SC, RC (p value 0.000).  No significant difference was found for the PANSS-N (p=0.156) among both groups.

Conclusions Cognitive insight may impact negative symptoms directly via a rigid reasoning style that fosters disengagement in constructive activity as well as reduced interpersonal expressivity.