LACK OF INSIGHT or ANOSOGNOSIA AND MENTAL
ILLNESSES
Anosognosia Keeps Patients From Realizing
They Are Ill
According to Xavier Amador, Ph.D., who spoke
at the 2001 convention of the National Alliance for the Mentally
ill in Washington, D.C., in July:
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Anosognosia, "unawareness
of illness," is a syndrome commonly seen in people with serious
mental illness and some neurological disorders.
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A growing body of evidence
points to the fact that for many people with serious mental
illness, lack of insight is a medically based condition.
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About half of the people
with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder may not be getting the
treatment they need because of a brain deficit that renders
them unable to perceive their illness.
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"People will come up with
illogical and even bizarre explanations for symptoms and life
circumstances stemming from their illness."
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People with this syndrome
do not believe they are ill despite evidence to the contrary,
said Amador, who is director of psychology at the New York Psychiatric
Institute and professor of psychology.
Psychiatric News - September 7, 2001
Volume 36 Number 17, p.13, Professional News
Reprinted with permission by Psychiatric
News and the author, @2001 America Psychiatric Association. All
rights reserved.
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