Insight and hopelessness in forensic patients with schizophrenia

Abstract

Objective: To quantitatively explore the level of insight in forensic patients with schizophrenia, and its relationship to symptoms and to a history of violence. In addition, to test the hypothesis that scores in the insight domains of 'compliance' and 'awareness of illness' are positively correlated with scores on a self-report scale measuring 'hopelessness'. Method: The study consisted of a cross-sectional survey. Subjects were inpatients and outpatients in the rehabilitation service of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health. Twenty-eight patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and a history of serious offending consented to take part. Twenty-two of these had committed homici..