Insight And Psychosis: Awareness of Illness in Schizophrenia and Related Disorders - Tapa blanda

This is the second edition of Amador and David's enormously influential book and contains much new material - notably on neuropsychological research and the clinical relevance of stakeholders, including service users and carers. The quality of the papers is outstanding: in particular Jolley and Gartey on cognitive psychological approaches to delusions, Fulford's philosophical analysis, Torrey on violence and insight, McEvoy on compliance with medication and Frese's first-person perspective. Reading this book has changed my understanding of the concept of insight. I can no longer think of it simply as agreeing with the doctor. This is a book that should be read by all mental health professionals. Carers and service users, and those who work in philosophy or the social sciences and are interested in disability, awareness, and mental health, would also find it of interest. (Mental Health Today)

This is possibly the most comprehensive book on insight available and it tackles an enormous task extremely well . . . this is a book to be highly recommended to anyone seeking a broader view of the many facets of insight that might arise during their clinical work. It would be well placed as a book of reference for students, general practitioners, clinical psychologists and psychiatrists who wish to delve into this fascinating subject. (Primary Care Psychiatry, Vol 9, No 4)

The insight a patient shares into their own psychosis is fundamental to their condition - it goes to the heart of what we understand 'madness' to be. Can a person be expected to accept treatment for a condition that they deny they have? Can a person be held responsible for their actions if those actions are inspired by their own unique perceptions and beliefs - beliefs that no-one else shares?

The topic of insight in schizophrenia and related disorders has become a major focus of research in psychiatry and psychology. It has important clinical implications in terms of outcome, treatment adherence, competence, and forensic issues.

In order to study 'insight' a broad perspective is required. This involves applying knowledge from the cognitive and brain sciences, as well as from philosophy and the social sciences.

Insight and Psychosis comprises a series of in-depth, well-referenced, scholarly overviews from each of these perspectives with a strong empirical foundation - including in some cases the presentation of new data and meta-analysis of the published literature. These are integrated and synthesised by the editors, both acknowledged experts in the field. The scope is truly international and spans theoretical perspectives, clinical practice, and consumer views. The book will act as a source for students and researchers interested in pursuing any number of questions and controversies around lack of insight and awareness, and will guide clinical psychologists and psychiatrists who seek a broader view of the many facets of insight that might arise during their day-to-day work.