Changes of insight in manic episodes and influencing factors.

The aims of this prospective study were to explore patterns of insight change during recovery from acute manic episodes, and to investigate the factors influencing these changes of insight. Thirty-three bipolar patients were interviewed to determine the level of insight into their manic states using the Schedule of Assessment of Insight (SAI) and its expanded version (SAI-E), and then were reassessed upon recovery. The subjects were divided into improved, unchanged, and deteriorated groups according to the direction of change in insight score, determined from a comparison of the two states.