questions. Lack of insight has been diagnosed by several different testing methods. Peralta and Cuesta interviewed patients based on three components (unawareness of illness, unawareness of symptoms, and refusal of treatment) and also on the Lack of Insight Index while several other scientists have used the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for schizophrenia (PANSS). Still other scientists have altered existing tests (such as the Hamilton Depression Scale) to fit psychotic disorders. While these tests ask similar questions, there is no standard by which to evaluate lack of insight. The differences in conclusions on lack of insight in schizophrenia may very well be because of all the different testing methods. Peralta and Cuesta concluded that lack of insight seemed to be “an independent dimension” from other schizophrenic symptoms, both positive and negative (560). Their data point to lack of insight as part of the schizophrenic process, not just a symptom. Unlike Peralta and Cuesta, Debowska, Grzywa, and Kucharska-Pietura found that lack of insight correlated with positive and negative symptoms of patients with schizophrenia, hostility, blunted affect, emotional withdrawal, and stereotyped thinking included (257). Debowska also found a correlation between specific kinds of delusions and lack of insight. Patients with delusions of thought broadcasting were more likely to refuse treatment. Patients with delusions of grandeur or a sexual nature had worse insight than patients with other types of delusions (Debowska 259). While Fennig et al. did not find as many correlations as Debowska, their data did show that lack of insight corresponded significantly with negative symptoms (785). Most of these conclusions have been found in multiple studies but this does not explain the difference in conclusions. Is lack of insight a diagnosable symptom or part of the process of schizophrenia? Further testing is needed to con...
