Differential relationships between set-shifting abilities and dimensions of insight in schizophrenia

Abstract

Background: To assess insight in a large sample of patients with schizophrenia and to study its relationship with set shifting as an executive function.

Methods: The insight of a sample of 161 clinically stable, community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia was evaluated by means of the Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder (SUMD). Set shifting was measured using the Trail-Making Test time required to complete part B minus the time required to complete part A (TMT B-A). Linear regression analyses were performed to investigate the relationships of TMT B-A with different dimensions of general insight.

Results: Regression analyses revealed a significant association between TMT B-A and two of the SUMD general components: 'awareness of mental disorder' and 'awareness of the efficacy of treatment'. The 'awareness of social consequences' component was not significantly associated with set shifting.

Conclusions: Our results show a significant relation between set shifting and insight, but not in the same manner for the different components of the SUMD general score.