Insight, positive and negative symptoms, hope, depression and self-stigma: a comprehensive model of mutual influences in schizophrenia spectrum disorders

TY - JOUR

T1 - Insight, positive and negative symptoms, hope, depression and self-stigma

T2 - a comprehensive model of mutual influences in schizophrenia spectrum disorders

AU - Schrank, B.

AU - Amering, M.

AU - Hay, A. Grant

AU - Weber, M.

AU - Sibitz, I.

PY - 2014/9

Y1 - 2014/9

N2 - Aims. Insight, positive and negative symptoms, hope, depression and self-stigma are relevant variables in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. So far, research on their mutual influences has been patchy. This study simultaneously tests the associations between these variables.Methods. A total of 284 people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were assessed using the Schedule for the Assessment of Insight, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Integrative Hope Scale, Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale. Path analysis was applied to test the hypothesized relationships between the variables.Results. Model support was excellent. Strong and mutual causal influences were confirmed between hope, depression and self-stigma. The model supported the assumption that insight diminishes hope and increases depression and self-stigma. While negative symptoms directly affected these three variables, reducing hope and increasing depression and self-stigma, positive symptoms did not. However, positive symptoms diminished self-stigma on a pathway via insight.Conclusions. This study provides a comprehensive synopsis of the relationships between six variables relevant for schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Research implications include the need to investigate determinants of consequences of insight, and the sequence of influences exerted by positive and negative symptoms. Clinical implications include the importance of interventions against self-stigma and of taking a contextualized approach to insight.

AB - Aims. Insight, positive and negative symptoms, hope, depression and self-stigma are relevant variables in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. So far, research on their mutual influences has been patchy. This study simultaneously tests the associations between these variables.Methods. A total of 284 people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were assessed using the Schedule for the Assessment of Insight, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Integrative Hope Scale, Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale. Path analysis was applied to test the hypothesized relationships between the variables.Results. Model support was excellent. Strong and mutual causal influences were confirmed between hope, depression and self-stigma. The model supported the assumption that insight diminishes hope and increases depression and self-stigma. While negative symptoms directly affected these three variables, reducing hope and increasing depression and self-stigma, positive symptoms did not. However, positive symptoms diminished self-stigma on a pathway via insight.Conclusions. This study provides a comprehensive synopsis of the relationships between six variables relevant for schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Research implications include the need to investigate determinants of consequences of insight, and the sequence of influences exerted by positive and negative symptoms. Clinical implications include the importance of interventions against self-stigma and of taking a contextualized approach to insight.

KW - Insight

KW - path modelling

KW - schizophrenia spectrum disorders

KW - self-stigma

KW - SEVERE MENTAL-ILLNESS

KW - SYNDROME SCALE PANSS

KW - INTERNALIZED STIGMA

KW - PEOPLE

KW - RECOVERY

KW - DISCRIMINATION

KW - CONSEQUENCES

KW - EMPOWERMENT

KW - ESTEEM

U2 - 10.1017/S2045796013000322

DO - 10.1017/S2045796013000322

M3 - Article

SN - 2045-7960

VL - 23

SP - 271

EP - 279

JO - Epidemiology And Psychiatric Sciences

JF - Epidemiology And Psychiatric Sciences

IS - 3

ER -