Abstract

The reduction of insight in people affected by schizophrenia has three main components: unawareness of symptoms, of illness consequences and unawareness of the need for treatment (Birchwood, Smith, Drury, Healy, Macmillan and Slade, 1994). Schizophrenic subjects are more often affected by several neuropsychological deficits than normal controls (Mazza, De Risio, Surian, Roncone and Casacchia, 2001). We investigated if reduced awareness of the illness was associated with cognitive impairment. Fifty people affected by schizophrenia, according to DSM-IV (APA, 1994) criteria, were administered a neuropsychological tests battery and the Self Report Insight Scale (Birchwood et al., 1994). Results showed interesting associations between insight dimensions, executive functions and social cognition (Theory of Mind).