Neuropsychological and psychophysiological correlates of psychosocial functioning in schizophrenia

This study tested hypothesized relationships between neuropsychological and psychophysiological variables and concurrent levels of clinical and psychosocial functioning in schizophrenia. The sample consisted of 40 subjects diagnosed with a chronic schizophrenia spectrum disorder and living in community-based settings. The psychophysiological variables were tonic skin conductance (SC) level, SC reactivity to stressors, and SC response to orienting stimuli. The neuropsychological measures were the Stroop, the Controlled Word Association Test, and four subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (block design, digit symbol, digit span, and arithmetic). The psychosocial variables were measures of symptomatology, independent living, work, and social functioning. The results suggested that higher symptoms were associated with higher resting arousal, lower stress reactivity, status as an electrodermal responder, and deficits in verbal fluency and visuo-motor functioning. The pattern for better social functioning was higher resting arousal, lower stress reactivity, and more responses to orienting stimuli. Higher levels of independent living were associated with better visuo-motor and verbal processing. Increased work functioning was associated with better complex visuo-spatial processing. These findings are discussed in terms of (1) the specificity of associations between psychosocial, psychophysiological, and neuropsychological variables and (2) a holistic perspective toward understanding these relationships and their relevance to rehabilitation in schizophrenia.