The Role of Communication on Social Functioning in Schizophrenia: Verbal and Nonverbal Aspects

Communication skills are vital to social functioning. Patients with schizophrenia, who often exhibit impairments in social functioning, experience difficulties in both verbal and nonverbal communication. This study aimed to compare the influence of nonverbal sensitivity and verbal communication disturbance on the social functioning of schizophrenia patients.

The study included 38 schizophrenia patients (SCH) and 40 healthy controls (HC). Nonverbal and verbal abilities were assessed using the Mini Profile of Nonverbal Sensitivity (Mini-PONS) and the Communication Disturbance Index (CDI), respectively. Social functioning was measured with the Social Functioning Scale (SFS), and symptom severity was evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).

Schizophrenia patients exhibited significantly lower nonverbal sensitivity and higher verbal communication disturbance compared to healthy controls. Mini-PONS and CDI scores were significantly correlated with SFS scores in the schizophrenia group but not in healthy controls. Regression models revealed that PANSS and Mini-PONS scores significantly predicted social functioning in schizophrenia patients. Furthermore, symptom severity fully mediated the relationship between verbal communication disturbance and social functioning.

Nonverbal communication impairments exert a more pronounced effect on the decline in social functioning among schizophrenia patients. These findings underscore the importance of addressing communication deficits to improve social outcomes in this population.