Neuropsychological and psychopathological variables modulating cognitive insight in people with schizophrenia

Cognitive insight is the capacity of patients with schizophrenia to evaluate their psychotic experiences and respond to the corrective feedback. The relationship with their neuropsychological functions and the modulation exercised by mood and anxiety are still not clear. To make advances and deepen our knowledge would have an important impact on our understanding of the cognitive mechanisms and intervention programmes. Two samples were chosen, one clinical with persons suffering from schizophrenia (n = 43) and another with healthy individuals (n = 50). The Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS), a neuropsychological battery and questionnaire concerning depression and anxiety, was applied to them. The results suggest an influence of anxiety and the deficits in cognitive flexibility on the development of the mechanisms of Self-Reflection in persons with schizophrenia, with a different pattern to that found in healthy individuals. The results are discussed with respect to the intervention programmes.