An update on clinical insight, cognitive insight, and introspective accuracy in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: symptoms, cognition, and treatment.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARYMany people diagnosed with schizophrenia are unaware that they have a mental illness. This is referred to as having poor clinical insight. People struggle to form ideas about themselves or doubt what they think. This is referred to as having poor cognitive insight. Finally, many people diagnosed with schizophrenia may significantly overestimate their abilities. This is referred to as having poor introspective accuracy. This review shares research that shows that problems with these kinds of self-awareness can make it difficult for those with schizophrenia to manage their lives and the challenges of having a mental illness. At the same time, these problems with awareness may also protect people with schizophrenia from feeling depressed and at odds with the world. We discuss how these forms of unawareness result from many different factors and how new treatments may help individuals develop awareness without being vulnerable to significant emotional pain.