[Predictors of social functioning in schizophrenia].
OBJECTIVE
Impaired social functioning is a characteristic feature of schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to determine the factors that predict social functioning in schizophrenia.


METHODS
The study included 100 patients that met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia. All the patients were evaluated using the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms, Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia, Facial Emotion Identification Test, Facial Emotion Discrimination Test, Digit Span Test, Rey's Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Trail Making Test, and Social Functioning Scale. Marital status, living arrangements, and working status of the patients were also recorded. Pearson's correlation analysis and multiple stepwise regression analysis were used to determine the relationships between the research variables and social functioning. Categorical variables were compared with the independent samples t test.


RESULTS
Negative symptoms, level of education, and facial emotion identification were significant predictors of social functioning total score. Negative symptoms were the most important predictor of almost all domains of social functioning. Age and duration of illness were not associated with social functioning. There were no gender differences in terms of social functioning. Married patients had higher social functioning scores. Employed patients had lower negative symptom scores and higher social functioning scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Negative symptoms were the most important predictors of social functioning in our study.
Erol
Almila
A
Izmir Atatürk Eğitim ve Araştirma Hastanesi, Psikiyatri Kl, Izmir. aerol@superonline.com
Keleş Unal
Elif
E
Tunç Aydin
Eylem
E
Mete
Levent
L
D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004522:Educational Status; D004644:Emotions; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D014145:Trail Making Test; D014706:Verbal Learning