ANOSOGNOSIA

 ANOSOGNOSIA   

                   Podcast and film project                   

Gloria Healing has partnered with a team of folks to provide resources and personal stories from family members on their journey with Anosognosia.

 Anosognosia is a condition in which a person with a disability is cognitively unaware of having it due to an underlying physical condition. Anosognosia results from physiological damage to brain structures, typically to the parietal lobe or a diffuse lesion on the fronto-temporal-parietal area in the right hemisphere and is thus a neuropsychiatric disorder.  

History of Anosognosia

 Joseph Babinski (1857-1932), a French neurologist of Polish origin, was a physician of the Paris hospitals and member of the Academy of Medicine. Two main periods must be distinguished in his scientific activity. Early in his career, Babinski, working as an anatomo-pathologist and his tologist under the direction of Victor Cornil, Alfred Vulpian and Louis Ranvier, reported on several observations of general pathology and neuropathology. 

 Babinski also took an interest in the pathogenesis of hysteria and was the first to present acceptable differential-diagnostic criteria for separating hysteria from organic diseases, and coined the concept of pithiatism. In 1914, Babinski introduced the important concept of ‘anosognosia’ to name a disorder characterized by denial of illness or lack of awareness of disability. 

 LEAP

          The science is clear and unequivocal, the number one reason that people with severe mental illness (SMI) do not accept help or treatment is due to a “lack of insight” into being ill, otherwise known as anosognosia—a neurological symptom that leaves a person unable to understand that s/he is ill, consequently becoming non-compliant, treatment resistant, and isolated. Anosognosia causes refusal of, or inconsistent, treatment, worsening of symptoms over time, deterioration in long-term prognosis and other devastating outcomes: i.e., repeated cycle of involuntary hospitalizations followed by noncompliance then relapse, criminalization, poorer psycho-social functioning, increased aggression, homelessness, and suicide (DSM IV-TR, American Psychiatric Association Press, 2000; DSM-V, American Psychiatric Association Press, 2013). 

To worsen the problem, the “usual psycho-education approach” continues to drive people suffering from these neurological illnesses away from family and professional help. However, a new hands-on approach has been pioneered by Dr. Xavier Amador, internationally renowned clinical psychologist, published clinical researcher, forensic expert, best-selling author of I AM NOT SICK, I Don’t Need Help® and family caregiver of relatives with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. 

LEAP (Listen-Empathize-Agree-Partner®) is a set of evidence-based practices that create therapeutic alliances and trusting relationships with people suffering from severe mental illness. Designed to build and strengthen mutual respect, it helps people who are non-adherent, or partially adherent, to become more cooperative and engaged in treatment and services, including medication, psychotherapy, psychosocial programs, club houses, peer-support, and supervised housing. The mission of The LEAP Institute is to transform the healthcare, educational and government systems by providing evidence-based education, training and ongoing support to individuals and organizations involved in the care and safety of people suffering from severe mental illness, including: 

Without your support, this project would not be possible.

EIN 83-1553483