Patients With Schizophrenia Who Achieved Symptomatic Remission Had Significantly Better Personal and Social Functioning

76 Patients with schizophrenia were categorized by their remission status.

Cross-sectional symptomatic remission was defined according to the symptom-severity remission criteria proposed by Andreasen et al (2005); however, patients hospitalized in the previous 6 months were not considered to have fulfilled the remission criteria.

The majority (69.7%) were not in remission.

Social functioning was evaluated with the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) (Endicott et al, 1976) and the Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale.

Subjective quality of life was assessed with the World Health Organization Quality of Life measure—Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL—Bref), a generic self-report quality of life (QoL) instrument providing 4 unweighted domain measurements: physical, psychological, social relationships, and environment.

The neurocognitive test battery encompassed the domains of processing speed (Wechsler Memory Scale ^[WMS]—Mental Tracking; Trail Making Test Part A ^[TMT-A]); executive functions (Digit Span; Trail Making Test Part B ^[TMT-B]); and verbal learning and memory (California Verbal Learning Test ^[CVLT]).

Social functioning scores were significantly higher in remitted patients.

As a group, remitted patients showed statistically significant better functioning in all the functioning domains of the PSP except disturbing and aggressive behaviors. Only 15 patients scored ≥70 on the PSP, reflecting mild or no functioning difficulties; however, of this number, only 8 patients with a PSP total score of ≥70 were in remission.

Reference:
Brissos S, Dias VV, Balanzá-Martinez V, Carita AI, Figueira ML. Symptomatic remission in schizophrenia patients: relationship with social functioning, quality of life, and neurocognitive performance. Schizophr Res. 2011; 129 (2-3): 133-136.