What term describes the lack of awareness of one's own illness, commonly seen in schizophrenia?

What term describes the lack of awareness of one's own illness, commonly seen in schizophrenia?

• A. Anosognosia
• B. Apathy
• C. Denial
• D. Insight

Answer: (A)

Anosognosia is the failure to recognize or acknowledge that one has an illness, which is a common phenomenon in schizophrenia. It reflects a real deficit in self-awareness of symptoms, so the person may experience psychotic symptoms yet deny their existence or seriousness even when evidence is clear. This differs from denial, which is a conscious coping strategy to avoid distress; anosognosia is not under voluntary control. Apathy involves reduced motivation or interest, not specifically unawareness of illness. Insight is the awareness of having a psychiatric illness and understanding its impact, which is the opposite of anosognosia. In practice, anosognosia can make treatment engagement and adherence challenging because the person may not believe they are ill or need help.

Anosognosia is the failure to recognize or acknowledge that one has an illness, which is a common phenomenon in schizophrenia. It reflects a real deficit in self-awareness of symptoms, so the person may experience psychotic symptoms yet deny their existence or seriousness even when evidence is clear. This differs from denial, which is a conscious coping strategy to avoid distress; anosognosia is not under voluntary control. Apathy involves reduced motivation or interest, not specifically unawareness of illness. Insight is the awareness of having a psychiatric illness and understanding its impact, which is the opposite of anosognosia. In practice, anosognosia can make treatment engagement and adherence challenging because the person may not believe they are ill or need help.