Insight and comparison of different insight scales in patients with anorexia nervosa

AIM: Although insight is an important guide in the recognition, treatment and follow-up of mental disorders, it is a concept that continues to be debated about its content, limits and evaluation. In our study, we aimed to examine the relationships of the scales with each other and with clinical data by applying different insight scales to AN patients. We also aimed to evaluate the possible effects and consequences of disease denial on the scales. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted with 32 AN patients who applied to Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital Psychiatry Clinic and accepted to participate in the study and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study. The patients were first interviewed with SCID-1 compatible with DSM-V and then the sociodemographic data form was filled. The Overvalued Ideas Scale (OVİS), Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale (BABS), Scale of Unawareness of Mental Disorder (SUMD), Schedule for Assessing the Three Components of Insight (SATCI) were administered to the patients by the physician. Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS), Eating Attitude Test (EAT), Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and Body Cathexis Scale (BCS) were filled in by the patients. RESULTS: As a result of the clinician's evaluation, it was determined that 9.4% of the patients had insight, 15.6% had partial insight, and 75% had no insight. No significant correlation was found between the insight assessment scales (OVİS, BABS, SUMD, SATCI, BCIS) and sociodemographic data and anorectic symptoms (EAT, EDE-Q). While the insight assessment scales showed a significant correlation among themselves, only BCIS did not correlate with the others. Results of clinician insight assessment and insight scales were found to be similar and consistent. CONCLUSION: Different insight scales gave meaningful results among themselves and were similar and consistent with the clinician's insight assessment, no difference was found. There was no significant correlation between insight scales and symptom severity and body image. No correlation was found between the results of the insight scales and anorectic symptoms. Keywords: Anorexia nervosa, insight, insight scales