Psychiatry Investig.  2017 Sep;14(5):539-545. 10.4306/pi.2017.14.5.539.

Impaired Social and Role Function in Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis and First-Episode Schizophrenia: Its Relations with Negative Symptoms

• Lee SJ
• Kim KR
• Lee SY
• An SK

• KMID: 2395475
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/pi.2017.14.5.539

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Psychosocial dysfunction was a nettlesome problem of schizophrenia even in their prodromal phase as well as in their first-episode. In addition, its relations with psychopathology were not determined. The aim of the present study was to examine whether the social and role function impairment was found in ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR) individuals as well as first-episode schizophrenia patients and to explore its relations with psychopathology.
METHODS
Thirty-seven normal controls, 63 UHR participants and 28 young, first-episode schizophrenia patients were recruited. Psychosocial functioning was examined by using Global function: Social and Role scale. Psychopathologies of positive, negative and depressive symptom were also measured.
RESULTS
Social and role functioning in UHR were compromised at the equivalent level of those of first-episode schizophrenia patients. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that social and role dysfunction was associated with negative symptoms in each UHR and first-episode schizophrenia group.
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that the significant impairment of social and role function may be appeared before the active psychosis onset at the level of extent to those of first-episode schizophrenia patients. The psychosocial intervention strategy especially targeting the negative symptoms should be developed and provided to individuals from their prepsychotic stage of schizophrenia.

Keyword

Schizophrenia; First episode; Ultra-high risk; Social dysfunction; Role dysfunction

MeSH Terms

Depression
Humans
Linear Models
Psychopathology
Psychotic Disorders*
Schizophrenia*