The Relationship of Neurocognitive Function, Symptoms, Social Cognition and Social Function in Patients with Schizophrenia

Choi, Sang Cheol; Kim, Kyung Jin; Paik, Young Suk; Oh, Sang Woo; Kim, Jae Hyun

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship among neurocognitive function, symptom, social cognition, and social and occupational function in patients with schizophrenia.
METHODS
Thirty patients with schizophrenia were subjected to following tests: The Wisconsin card sorting test(WCST), the digit span, the Rey-Kim memory test, the vigilance test, the positive and negative syndrome scale(PANSS), the ways of coping checklist, the scale to assess the unawareness of mental disorder(SUM.D.), the social and occupational function assessment(SOFAS) and the index of well-being(IWB).
RESULTS
The results were as follows. The perseverative errors of WCST in neurocognitive function were significantly negatively correlated with the score of the SOFAS. The memory quotients of Rey-Kim memory test were significantly positively correlated with the scores of the SOFAS. The scores of digit span were positively correlated with the general satisfaction of life. Negative symptom, general psychopathology and total PANSS score in symptom measurements were significantly negatively correlated with SOFAS and IWB. But positive symptom had no correlation with any scale. The problem focused coping in the social cognition variable was correlated with the score of SOFAS and the general satisfaction of life. Results of the stepwise regression for the SOFAS score, the problem focused coping, the K-A learning slope of Rey-Kim memory test, the PANSS total score and the perseverative errors of WCST predicted 65.7% of total variance. Results of the stepwise regression for the IWB score, for the feeling about life, the general psychopathology of PANSS and the K-A delayed recall score of Rey-Kim memory test predicted 41.8% of total variance. For the general satisfaction of life, the PANSS total score, the K-A delayed recall of Rey-Kim memory test, the backward recall, the failure to maintain set of WCST predicted 67.3% of total variance.
CONCLUSIONS
In this study, executive function, verbal memory, attention, negative symptom, general psychopathology, and problem focused coping were significantly correlated with social and occupational function in patients with schizophrenia. To predict the social and occupational function, the neurocognitive functions and the social cognition were significant variables. To predict subjective quality of life, symptom and neurocognitive variables were significant variables. Although the scales are very limited to measure various function areas and the subjects are heterogeneous, it is noteworthy that the search for correlation variables and prediction variables of social function of patients with schizophrenia is helpful for treatment and intervention.