Assessment of anosognosia for motor impairments

This chapter begins with a threefold distinction that organizes the investigation of anosognosia: the distinction between failure to experience a motor impairment (concurrent unawareness); failure to acknowledge the impairment itself; and failure to appreciate the consequences of the impairment. It then reviews methods for the assessment of motor impairments and anosognosia for motor impairments including structured anosognosia interviews that have been published. This literature review reveals considerable variation in the methods by which patients with anosognosia have been assessed. The development of a comprehensive and widely accepted procedure for assessing anosognosia for motor impairments would contribute to a better understanding of the many factors in anosognosia and might also lead to improvement in the clinical management of patients. The chapter presents a structured interview that offers a theoretically motivated and relatively comprehensive approach to the assessment of anosognosia for motor impairments.