A descriptive study of insight into illness reported by persons with schizophrenia.
1. Four levels of insight, ranging from lack of insight to complete insight, emerged from the interview data and field notes. Insight has many dimensions although it has previously been assessed as a unidimensional indicator of illness. 2. Persons with schizophrenia differ in insight or ability to recognize that they have an illness and the ramifications of the illness. Successful participation in rehabilitation requires some degree of insight into the illness. 3. Consistent family support, medications, and cognitive efforts by the person contributed to the developing of insight by the persons interviewed. Nevertheless, these conditions were not always sufficient for developing insight.