Improved insight affects social outcomes in involuntarily committed psychotic patients: A longitudinal study in the Netherlands

Improvement in illness insight was associated with improvement in social functioning, but this was not reflected in improved self-perceived quality of life. Illness insight could result in worrying about relationships, living situation, health and finances. For severely mentally ill patients additional strategies must be found to improve social outcomes. Researchers should be more aware of varying effects for researcher-rated versus self-report indicators of insight and social outcome.