[Anosognosia and anosodiaphoria in brain-damaged patients]

Anosognosia and anosodiaphoria are terms that have frequently been used to cover a wide variety of different concepts. A review of the literature provides the point of departure for presentation of the methodological problems arising from the use of these terms. We then discuss the concept of anosognosia as a linguistic behavioural pattern arising from the patient's reaction to the "non-accessibility" of a cerebral lesion. Anosognosia can thus be interpreted as behaviourally analogous to neglect. Anosodiaphoria is presented as a form of behaviour determined by the patient's attempt to come to terms with the consequences that a cerebral lesion has for his way of life.