Anosognosia and Psychosis: More Research is Needed on How Best to Treat People Unaware of Their Disorder

Among individuals with schizophrenia, an estimated 50% to 80% have a partial or even total lack of insight into the presence of their mental disorder. This condition, known as anosognosia, has also been observed in people with other diagnoses, such as bipolar disorder, major depression with psychotic features, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and eating disorders. The May-June 2023 issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology features two articles on this topic, a commentary by Rachel Streiff, titled  "Institutional Neglect of Anosognosia Is a Critical Barrier in the Treatment of Psychosis Related Disorders" and an editorial by Editor-in-Chief Anthony Rothschild, MD, titled "Can Psychopharmacology Do More for Our Patients With Anosognosia?" In this podcast, Ms. Streiff, who as cared for a family member with anosognosia, and Dr. Rothschild discuss their articles with Dr. Julia Koretski, Digital Editor of the journal. The articles and podcast are designed to heighten awareness of the scant research on medication treatments for people with serious mental illness who also experience anosognosia.