Insight and psychosis : awareness of illness in schizophrenia and related disorders

pt. I. Phenomenology and psychology -- 1. Understanding and assessing insight / Xavier F. Amador and Henry Kronengold -- 2. Insight in the psychoses : a conceptual history / German E. Berrios and Ivana S. Markova -- 3. Insight and delusion : from Jaspers to Kraepelin and back again via Austin / Bill (K.W.M.) Fulford -- 4. Cognitive insight : theory and assessment / Aaron T. Beck and Debbie M. Warman -- 5. Insight and delusions : a cognitive psychological approach / Suzanne Jolley and Philippa A. Garety -- 6. Insight in mood disorders : an empirical and conceptual review / S. Nassir Ghaemi and Klara J. Rosenquist -- pt. II. Neuropsychology -- 7. The neuropsychology of insight in psychiatric and neurological disorders / Frank Laroi, William B. Barr and Richard S.E. Keefe -- 8. Neural correlates of unawareness of illness in psychosis / Laura A. Flashman and Robert M. Roth -- 9. Neuropsychological studies of insight in patients with psychotic disorders / Kevin D. Morgan and Anthony S. David -- pt. III. Insight, culture, and society -- 10. Inside knowledge : cultural constructions of insight in psychosis / Laurence J. Kirmayer, Ellen Corin and G. Eric Jarvis -- 11. Japanese attitudes towards insight in schizophrenia / Yoshiharu Kim -- 12. The relationship of insight to violent behavior and stigma / E. Fuller Torrey -- 13. Why lack of insight should have a central place in mental health law / Ken J. Kress -- pt. IV. Clinical and personal implications of poor insight -- 14. Delusions, action, and insight / Alec Buchanan and Simon C. Wessely -- 15. The relationship between insight into psychosis and compliance with medications / Joseph P. McEvoy -- 16. Awareness of illness in schizophrenia : advances from psychosocial rehabilitation research / Paul H. Lysaker and Morris D. Bell -- 17. Inside "insight" -- a personal perspective on insight in psychosis / Frederick J. Frese III -- 18. The clinical importance of insight : an overview / Anthony S. David.

The insight a patient shares into their own psychosis is fundamental to their condition - it goes to the heart of what we understand 'madness' to be. Can a person be expected to accept treatment for a condition that they deny they have? Can a person be held responsible for their actions if those actions are inspired by their own unique perceptions and beliefs - beliefs that no-one else shares? The topic of insight in schizophrenia and related disorders has become a major focus of research in psychiatry and psychology. It has important clinical implications in terms of outcome, treatment adherence, competence, and forensic issues. In order to study 'insight' a broad perspective is required. This involves applying knowledge from the cognitive and brain sciences, as well as from philosophy and the social sciences. Insight and Psychosis comprises a series of in-depth, well-referenced, scholarly overviews from each of these perspectives with a strong empirical foundation - including in some cases the presentation of new data and meta-analysis of the published literature. These are integrated and synthesised by the editors, both acknowledged experts in the field. The scope is truly international and spans theoretical perspectives, clinical practice, and consumer views. The book will act as a source for students and researchers interested in pursuing any number of questions and controversies around lack of insight and awareness, and will guide clinical psychologists and psychiatrists who seek a broader view of the many facets of insight that might arise during their day-to-day work.