[Correlation between symptoms and social adjustment in patients suffering from schizophrenia or major affective...

With a view to examining the appropriateness of relying solely on pharmacotherapy rather than on a program of multimodal therapy, the goal of this study is to test the hypothesis that there is little relationship between psychotic and affective symptoms on the one hand, and life skills and social functioning on the other. Eighty-four male subjects presenting a diagnosis of schizophrenia, mania or severe depression were therefore recruited in hospitals in the Montreal region. The relationships previously identified were studied, while factors likely to affect them, such as the chronicity of the disorder, the level of intellectual functioning, and the presence of additional symptoms, were controlled as necessary. The results suggest poorer social functioning among the schizophrenics having a high level of negative symptoms. In addition, the relationship between negative symptoms and IQ suggests that the intellectual functioning of these individuals can potentially affect the acquisition of skills required for adequate social functioning. Among subjects with a major affective disorder, the results reveal poor social functioning even during quasi-asymptomatic periods. These results suggest that patients suffering from schizophrenia or a major affective disorder require interventions aimed at increasing their level of psychosocial functioning.