Insight and psychosocial treatment compliance in schizophrenia

Research has suggested that poor insight in patients with schizophrenia is associated with poorer medication compliance and heightened levels of psychopathology. This study examined the relationship of insight to compliance with a work rehabilitation program and with levels of psychopathology and psychosocial functioning. Poor insight was found to be positively associated with fewer weeks of participation and with poorer social skills and personal presentation in the fifth week of work. Poor insight was also associated with cognitive disorganization and a lower intelligence quotient, but not with heightened levels of psychopathology. Results suggest that poor insight may predict noncompliance with psychosocial treatment and may be related to a constellation of cognitive deficits.