[Symptoms and social functioning features in chronic schizophrenia are aggregate in a tripartite structure].
OBJECTIVE
To verify the association between schizophrenic symptoms and multidimensional variables of social functioning and to look for a possible classification based on an empirical classification outcome oriented.


METHODS
Forty chronic schizophrenic patients, with a diagnosis ascertained through clinical interview and diagnostic criteria were enrolled in the study.


METHODS
All patients were followed in a State Mental Health center and were assessed in a stabilized phase of illness. PRINCIPAL OUTCOME MEASURES: Psychopathological assessment was made with PANSS and CGI. Psychosocial assessment was made with Life Skills Profile and Global Functioning Scale.


RESULTS
A pervasive correlation among symptoms and psychosocial variables emerged suggesting a unitary concept of behavior related to diagnosis. Factor analysis revealed 2 main components able to explain the 79% of variance. Cluster analysis separated the patients in 3 different groups showing that clinical symptoms are aggregated with specific variables of social functioning.


CONCLUSIONS
Schizophrenic symptoms and social functioning are organized in a tripartite structure. It suggests the existence of three different syndromes that are outcome oriented, and compatible with an unitary concept of schizophrenia.
Di Michele
V
V
Azienda USL di Pescara, Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Centro di Salute Mentale di Pescara, Pescara. vittorio.dimichele@tin.it
Bolino
F
F
Di Zio
G
G
Pincini
P
P
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology*
Le caratteristiche sintomatologiche e di funzionamento sociale nella schizofrenia cronica si aggregano in una struttura tripartitica.