Illness insight and recovery: How important is illness insight in peoples’ recovery process?

TOPIC: This account reflects on the topic of illness insight and recovery. PURPOSE: The purpose of the account is to clarify our understanding about the importance of illness insight in peoples' recovery process, especially when relating the question of illness insight to the question of identity. SOURCES USED: The writing is based on research literature related to illness insight and on personal recovery experiences. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: It is helpful to consider the integration of the issue of illness insight when addressing the questions and consequences of diagnosis, and to assist individuals to work through the false analogy between illness and identity while supporting the transformation from patient to person. It is also necessary for clinicians to develop a clear understanding of peoples' actual needs and gain more knowledge about peoples' own views and experiences in relation to the importance of illness insight in the recovery process.