The Insight of Patients and Their Parents Differ in the Early Phase of Psychosis

Abstract

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate whether the insight of patients and their parents differ in the early phase of psychosis. Target population were the patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of the psychotic spectrum (F20- F29; ICD- 10th; disease duration ≤ 5 years), both sexes, with average age M = 25.4 (SD = 3.56, C = 25, min = 18, max = 32) and their parents. Insight into illness in patients was assessed using the Scale to assess Unawareness of mental Disorder (SUMD) abbreviated version. Parents’ insight into illness was assessed with a modified version of the SUMD with question rephrased to probe parents’ understanding of patients’ illness. The expression, structure and severity of psychotic symptoms was assessed by The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale of Schizophrenia (PANSS- Five factor models) and Clinical global impression scale (CGI- s). The results indicated a statistically significant (Z = 2.99; p < 0.01) higher mean value on General Awareness of patients (M = 6.1, SD = 3.26) compared to parents (M = 5.0, SD = 2.99. A significant difference was obtained by the sex of parents too (z = -2.07, p < 0.05): fathers had better insight (M = 2.0, SD = 1.15) than mothers (M = 1.5, SD = 0.89). The results call for necessity to develop innovative and comprehensive program for early family interventions.