The assessment of disability, insight and self-care in schizophrenia patients

INTRODUCTION AND AİM: Schizophrenia is a chronic disorder with positive-negative symptoms, adversely affecting insight, resulting in severe disability, thereby reducing the daily life and self-care abilities of patients. In our study, it was aimed to evaluate the relationship between positive negative symptoms, insight and disability in schizophrenia patients during remission period and the efficiency of self-care associated with these. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients, who were being monitored with schizophrenia diagnosis in designated Community Mental Health Centers between November 2017 and May 2018, were included in the study. Data were collected by using Interview Form, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Birchwood Insight Scale, World Health Organization Disability Assessment Chart (WHO-DAS 2), Self-Care Power Scales. The data were evaluated by independent T test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation tests. FINDINGS: In the study, a positive correlation was found between PANSS scale negative syndrome sub-dimension score and awareness of Birchwood Insight scale sub-dimension score. A positive correlation between the PANSS scale sub-dimensions and all sub-dimensions of WHO-DAS 2 scale was determined. The results exhibited a negative correlation between the PANSS scale sub-dimensions and the total score of the Self-Care Power Scale. A negative correlation was measured between the awareness of the symptoms and the Birchwood Insight Scale total score, and the Self-Care Power Scale mean scores. A negative correlation was detected between all sub-dimensions of the WHO-DAS 2 scale and the total score of the Self-Care Power Scale (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We can say that the patients who participate in our study have negative symptoms, experience impairments in all areas of life and the effectiveness of their self-care skills are moderate. These results are important in terms of planning interventions to improve the impaired daily functions and develop self-care skills. Key Words: Disability, Insight, Nurse, Self-care, Schizophrenia