title: Social disability in chronic psychiatric patients.
abstract: The authors measured the social functioning of 147 chronic psychiatric patients using a rating scale originally devised for use with the mentally retarded, the Adaptive Behavior Scale (ABS). They found that social deficits were more widespread and generally more severe among chronic psychiatric patients than among institutionalized mentally subjects. Chronic undifferentiated schizophrenic patients showed the most comprehensive deterioration; other groups, such as neurotic patients, women, and the elderly, had more limited impairments. The authors suggest that the ABS can be useful in establishing the limits of social functioning of chronic psychiatric patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment