title: Relationship of psychological symptoms, antipsychotics and social data with psychosocial function in schizophrenia patients in Malaysia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study investigated the relationship between psychological symptoms and psychosocial function and the role of relevant sociodemographic data and antipsychotic use in the prediction of psychosocial function among multiracial schizophrenia outpatients in Malaysia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 223 participants were recruited in this cross-sectional study conducted from December 2010 to April 2011. Psychological symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale whilst the psychosocial function was assessed using the Personal and Social Performance scale. Sociodemographic and treatment variables were gathered through interview or review of the medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All dimensions of psychosocial functions were inversely correlated with Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale sub-domains. Only the disorganization sub-domain significantly predicts all dimensions of psychosocial function. For social data, body mass index and employment status were significant predictors of all dimensions of psychosocial functions. Typical antipsychotics significantly predict social function negatively as compared to sulpiride (β = -0.152, P = 0.028).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that the relationship between psychological symptoms and psychosocial functions were relatively consistent with the findings from the Caucasian population. Additionally, disorganization was the only significant predictor of all dimensions of psychosocial functions. This further emphasized the importance of cognition in psychosocial function. The roles of sulpiride, body mass index and employment status as predictors of psychosocial function were also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: A Talib
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Norlelawati
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kartini
authors.forename: Kuzaifah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Norsidah
authors.forename: Musa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramli
authors.forename: Wan Sulaiman
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Wan Azizi
authors.forename: Abdul Razak
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Tariq
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012042:Registries; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D013469:Sulpiride
keywords: antipsychotics; psychosocial function; schizophrenia; symptoms