A comparative study of insight scales and their relationship to psychopathological and clinical variables

Background. Research on the subject of insight has been hampered by difficulties in definition and reliable measurement. Methods. We compared several rating scales to measure insight on a group of 33 psychotic patients as well as assessing patients' psychopathology, clinical characteristics and cognitive functioning. Results. Most currently used scales showed a high degree of inter-correlation. Measures of insight related strongly to the presence of delusions; grandiosity (inversely), and depression (positively). Higher insight scores correlated with indices of treatment compliance and inversely with substance abuse. Measures of pre-morbid IQ and impaired executive functioning, including the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test were not associated with poor insight. Conclusions. The study highlights aspects of psychopathology and clinical variables particularly related to insight and supports the continued use of standardized scales in further research in this area.