RESUMO
Objective:To investigate the competency of informed consent in new admitted schizophrenia pa-tients.Methods:Fifty-three patients who were consecutively admitted to the hospital and diagnosed as schizophrenia according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems,Tenth Revision (ICD-10)were recruited and assessed in seventy-two hours.The competence of informed consent was assessed by the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool-Treatment (MacCAT-T).The insight was assessed by the Insight and Treatment Attitude Questionnaire.The severity of illness was assessed by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS).Correlations between the competence of informed consent and the factors mentioned above were discussed.Results:Forty-five (84.9%)patients had lower MacCAT-T scores,especially the scores of understand-ing dimension (1.58 ±1.85)and appreciation dimension (2.40 ±1.47).The competence of informed consent was significantly correlated with insight (r =0.73,P <0.01)but not correlated with age,education,duration of illness and BPRS scores.Logistic regression demonstrated that insight (OR =0.69)was a protective factor of competence of informed consent while thought disturbance (OR =1.39)was a risk factor.As to the involuntary admitted pa-tients,34.1% of them had competence of informed consent.Conclusion:The competence of informed consent in new admitted schizophrenia patients is widely impaired especially in understanding and appreciation dimension.The competence of informed consent is correlated with insight and thought disturbance.Voluntary or involuntary hospi-talization does not reflect the level of competence of informed consent.