Negative Symptoms Predict the Improvement of Social Functioning of Patients with Schizophrenia

【Abstract】 Objective To identify predictive factors associated with the improvement of social functioning of schizophrenia patients in a community. Methods 101 schizophrenia patients undergoing community rehabilitation were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP), Self-Esteem Scale (SES), Family Function Questionnaire (APGAR), and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale Ⅱ (WHODAS-Ⅱ) twice 6 months apart. Pearson correlation and hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify the influencing and predictive factors associated with the improvement of social functioning. Results The increase of PSP score was correlated with age (\r=0.220), reduced PANSS negative score （\r=0.468）, reduced PANSS general score （\r=0.392）, reduced PANSS total score （\r=0.472）, and reduced WHODAS-Ⅱ Score （\r=0.247）. The predictive factors of the change of PSP score followed the following order: change of PANSS negative score 〔the change of coefficient of determination （Δ\R \2）=0.197〕, age of onset （Δ\R \2=0.048）, change of WHODAS-Ⅱ score and psychiatric rehabilitation （Δ\R \2=0.031）. Conclusion Improvement of negative symptoms predicts the short-term improvement of social functioning of schizophrenia patients.