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Validation of the Italian version of the self report Insight Scale

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2011

Rita Roncone ,
Carola Tozzini ,
Monica Mazza ,
Alessandro De Risio ,
Patricia Giosuè ,
Pierluigi Morosini  and
Massimo Casacchia
Rita Roncone*
Affiliation:
Clinica Psichiatrica, Università degli Studi de L'Aquila, L'Aquila
Carola Tozzini
Affiliation:
Clinica Psichiatrica, Università degli Studi de L'Aquila, L'Aquila
Monica Mazza
Affiliation:
Clinica Psichiatrica, Università degli Studi de L'Aquila, L'Aquila
Alessandro De Risio
Affiliation:
Clinica Psichiatrica, Università degli Studi de L'Aquila, L'Aquila
Patricia Giosuè
Affiliation:
Clinica Psichiatrica, Università degli Studi de L'Aquila, L'Aquila
Pierluigi Morosini
Affiliation:
Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma
Massimo Casacchia
Affiliation:
Clinica Psichiatrica, Università degli Studi de L'Aquila, L'Aquila
*
Address for correspondence: Prof.ssa R. Roncone, Clinica Psichiatrica, Università degli Studi de L'Aquila, Blocco 11, Via Vetoio Coppito I, 67100 L'Aquila. Fax: +39-0862-312.104 E-mail: rroncone@cc.univaq.it
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Summary

Aims – To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Insight Scale (IS), self-report questionnaire assessing the awareness of psychiatric illness. The instrument contains two forms, the first A that enquires about the present status, and the second B that concerns past episodes of illness. Method – Factorial structure, internal consistency and concurrent validity (towards three selected items of the 24-item BPRS, Unusual thought content”, Conceptual disorganisation and Uncooperativeness) were studied on 80 chronic subjects affected by schizophrenia. Differences between acute and stabilised patients were investigated. Test-retest reliability was assessed in a sub-sample of 22 stable cases. Results – The Italian IS showed satisfactory concurrent validity and reliability. Acute patients had lower scores than stabilised ones. Factorial analysis brought to the distinction between insight for need for care in the present and in the past, which seems both plausible and clinically-useful. Conclusion æ The use of the IS Italian version may be encouraged as a valid insight self–report instrument. Sensitivity to change and predictive power concerning clinical and social outcome and adherence to treatment should be investigated.

Declaration of Interest: the study was supported by the National Project Mental Health, Mental Health Institute, Rome, Italy.

Keywords

insightschizophreniavalidationfactor analysisBPRS
Type
Original papers
Information
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , March 2003 , pp. 63 - 75
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003

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