ABSTRACT
Introduction: Poor insight is a common feature of bipolar depression and unipolar depression with and without psychotic symptoms (PS) which may lead to poor clinical outcome. Studies on insight in these populations are relatively limited and the majority of studies were published over the previous decade. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observation study conducted in Psychiatry O.P.D. of tertiary care hospital. The sample consisted cohort of 20 outpatients each with unipolar depression, unipolar depression with psychotic symptoms and bipolar disorder current episode depression with psychotic symptoms. The depression was assessed by HAM-D and insight by Item G12 of the General Psychopathology section of PANSS. Results: Significant difference in insight is seen in all three groups. Bipolar patients with PS had the poorest insight, patients with unipolar depression had best. Statistically significant correlation is present with older age and lack of insight among patients of unipolar depression with PS (rho =.599, P =.005) and bipolar depression with PS (rho =.686 P=.001). Conclusion: Insight in depressive illness is affected by multiple factors; this study shows that age, bipolarity and presence of psychotic symptoms are associated with poor insight. Management of the patients of depressive spectrum should incorporate strategies to improve insight