Lack of insight in mood disorders

Abstract

Background: The study's aim was to examine insight in mood disorders in relation to type of mood episode, psychotic state, and insight change over the episode.

Methods: Fifty four patients with a manic or major depressive episode were interviewed for insight assessment at admission and discharge.

Results: At admission, mania patients had more severe insight impairment that depressive ones, depressive patients with psychosis had poorer insight than those without psychosis, and mania patients had poor insight irrespective of the presence of psychotic symptoms. At discharge some insight impairment was observed in mania.

Conclusion: Lack of insight was a prevalent condition in psychotic depression and mania.

Limitations: A global insight measure was used. Ratings of insight were not blind to the ratings of other symptoms.

Clinical relevance: Considering residual insight impairment in mania may be important to maximize compliance and to prevent relapse.