Subjective awareness of abnormal involuntary movements in chronic schizophrenic patients.

The authors examined the effects of verbal and visual feedback on subjective awareness of involuntary movements in 20 chronic schizophrenic patients. At initial evaluation only 25% of the patients were fully aware of their movement disorder. Both verbal and visual feedback resulted in significant immediate enhancement of awareness. However, assessment of awareness 2 weeks later showed a return to prefeedback baseline levels. Lack of awareness of involuntary movements was associated with a lack of awareness of psychiatric disorder, and both were associated with a longer duration of illness.