An adapted scale to evaluate insight in Prader-Willi Syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To develop an insight scale for Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), a genetically determined neurodevelopmental disorder with different psychopathological and behavioural problems.

Methodology: A sample of 36 PWS patients (58.3% women) attended at the Endocrinological Department of the Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí (Sabadell, Barcelona) was evaluated. Insight was assessed by means of an adapted version of the Scale of Unawareness of Mental Disorder (SUMD), including three general insight dimensions: awareness of having a PWS, awareness of the effects of psychopharmacological medication and awareness of the social consequences, as well as three items that assess awareness of each particular symptom of the disease (obesity/overweight, excessive appetite and excessive food intake).

Results: The final Scale included six items and demonstrated an adequate internal consistency (Cronbach Alfa of 0.857 for Caregivers and 0.798 for Clinicians) but a high inter-rate variability. External validation using an Analytical-Visual Insight Scale was adequate.

Conclusions: The Adapted version for Prader-Willi patients of the Scale of Unawareness of Mental Disorder (APW-SUD) showed adequate psychometric properties and it is an easy to administer means to assess insight in this population.

Keywords: Awareness; Caregivers; Conciencia; Cuidadores; Genetical; Genética; Insight; Prader-Willi Syndrome; Síndrome de Prader-Willi.