Insight and interpersonal problems in long-term schizophrenia

Abstract

Objectives : The main aims of this study were to discover, through self-reports, what interpersonal problems are identified by people suffering from long-term schizophrenia and to compare these reports with ratings of the same patients made by their community keyworkers. compare a measure of insight into interpersonal problems with a measure of insight into illness. Design : The technique of peer-rating item by item was used to compare self-reports and keyworkers' ratings. Methods : A short version of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-32) was completed by 29 schizophrenic patients and their keyworkers. Insight into illness was assessed with the Insight and Treatment Attitudes Questionnaire. Results : Schizophrenic patients appear to have good insight into the severity of their interpersonal problems in general but may underestimate the severity of their deficits. There was no evidence that insight into interpersonal problems is associated with insight into illness. Conclusions : Assessments of the needs of people with long-term schizophrenia for help with their interpersonal problems should canvas the opinions of patients as well as staff who know them well. A secondary aim was to