4 ms·

I think you seem to be confusing "lack of insight" (the clinical term, as a manifestation of a severe mental disorder) and "lacking insight" in a more general s

I think you seem to be confusing "lack of insight" (the clinical term, as a manifestation of a severe mental disorder) and "lacking insight" in a more general sense. The latter may well be cured by therapy or reflection on childhood problems. But as someone with a schizophrenic brother who, like the parent poster's family member, totally lacks insight into their own illness, I can say that the former really is not curable in the way you imply. It's a terrible thing to witness, and as far as I can tell, there are no simple solutions.

mjburgess 9y ago
They're both connected in this instance. A person with a personality disorder is really on a continuum of insight in which schizophrenia is the most extreme example and represents a complete dissociative break with self-awareness. I'm not claiming that the kind of dissociation a person experiences when psychotic can be treated by therapy. Pharmacology is essential, and actually I do think after awhile therapy can be helpful (I have family members who have had psychotic episodes too). The lack of insight in both cases is a product of dissociation. In a personality disorder this is a "mild" chronic state (compared to psychosis) which is amenable to very long term (years+) therapy, unlike psychosis. It is why BPD people with quite severe dissociation or who have episode of severe dissociation report mildly schizoprenic-like problems with their identity (eg. thinking that they are multiple people, lost time, etc.). I was assuming his BPD friend had this background state, which would not preclude treatment. Treatment would, in part, be to deal with that.
dsego 9y ago
Anosognosia.
- emmelaich 9y ago
  ... is a deficit of self-awareness, a condition in which a person with some disability seems unaware of its existence. (per Wikipedia) beep beep

4 ms·

I think you seem to be confusing "lack of insight" (the clinical term, as a manifestation of a severe mental disorder) and "lacking insight" in a more general s

by benbreen 9y ago

mjburgess 9y ago
They're both connected in this instance. A person with a personality disorder is really on a continuum of insight in which schizophrenia is the most extreme example and represents a complete dissociative break with self-awareness. I'm not claiming that the kind of dissociation a person experiences when psychotic can be treated by therapy. Pharmacology is essential, and actually I do think after awhile therapy can be helpful (I have family members who have had psychotic episodes too). The lack of insight in both cases is a product of dissociation. In a personality disorder this is a "mild" chronic state (compared to psychosis) which is amenable to very long term (years+) therapy, unlike psychosis. It is why BPD people with quite severe dissociation or who have episode of severe dissociation report mildly schizoprenic-like problems with their identity (eg. thinking that they are multiple people, lost time, etc.). I was assuming his BPD friend had this background state, which would not preclude treatment. Treatment would, in part, be to deal with that.
dsego 9y ago
Anosognosia.
- emmelaich 9y ago
  ... is a deficit of self-awareness, a condition in which a person with some disability seems unaware of its existence. (per Wikipedia) beep beep