Citation

Lysaker PH, Buck KD. Curr. Psychiatry Rev. 2007; 3(1): 65-71.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Bentham Science Publishers)

DOI

10.2174/157340007779815619

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

While interest has grown steadily in understanding how persons with schizophrenia appraise their disorder and subsequently move towards recovery, the nature of the impact of awareness or admission of schizophrenia on various domain of quality of life has remained a matter of debate. At the level of both theory and empirical study, it has been alternately argued that acknowledgement of one's mental illness is a key to and a detriment to recovery. Acknowledgement of illness has been recognized as something essential in order for a person to be able to make informed decisions about the future, to free oneself from blame for difficulties linked with illness and to form sustaining bonds with others. From another view, however, "awareness of illness" has been suggested as a barrier to recovery because it represents the acceptance of a system of social power in which one's individuality and dignity is diminished. Indeed empirical studies suggest both awareness and lack of awareness have significant risks associated with them. In this chapter we review this evidence and suggest that the impact of insight on quality of life may be mitigated by the degree to which persons have internalized stigmatizing beliefs about their illness. Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed. © 2007 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.

Language: en

Keywords

human; suicide; quality of life; Recovery; Schizophrenia; schizophrenia; chronic pain; risk assessment; treatment outcome; prediction; health behavior; Symptoms; awareness; review; mental disease; neuroleptic agent; hospital admission; priority journal; social psychology; medical decision making; self concept; dysphoria; Quality of life; symptom; Insight; Hope; health belief; Narrative; Psychosocial function