An analysis of social competence in schizophrenia

Article Abstract:

Negative or deficit symptoms in mental illness include blunted or flattened emotions, inactivity, disturbances in goal-directed behavior, impairment in self-care, social, and work skills, and linguistic deficits. Twenty schizophrenics with prominent negative symptoms were compared with 37 non-negative schizophrenics, 33 patients with major affective (mood) disorders, and 20 mentally healthy volunteers on a variety of measures, including a social adjustment scale, a quality of life scale, and a role-play test of social skills. All patients and volunteers in the study were male and female adults between the ages of 18 and 50 years. The aim of the study was to assess the degree of social impairment of schizophrenics, and to explore relationships between social competence and positive and negative symptoms. Schizophrenic patients scored significantly lower (poorer) than healthy controls on every measure, and were substantially impaired on verbal, non-verbal and overall ratings of social skill, as well as on ratings of role functioning. They were slightly, but not significantly, more impaired than the affective disorder patients. Patients with prominent negative symptoms consistently showed the greatest impairments on all measures, although non-negative patients also demonstrated substantial impairment. The primary effect of negative symptoms on social skill components was related to non-verbal behavior, suggesting that negative symptoms have a more pronounced effect on social role performance than on social skills. Positive or florid symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, anger or paranoia, did not have a uniform effect on social behavior. Although non-negative patients did not demonstrate adequate social functioning, they were more socially competent than negative patients. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects, Social skills

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Schizophrenia and crime: a longitudinal follow-up of 644 schizophrenics in Stockholm

Article Abstract:

With the increase in the rate of crime in Sweden (as well as other societies), and the ongoing release of mentally ill people from institutions, there is justifiable concern that de-institutionalized schizophrenics may be contributing to the crime rate. A review of 644 schizophrenic patients was conducted to see if schizophrenics commit crimes more often than the general population, and if so, what types of crimes they are most likely to commit. The 644 patient records were compared with the Swedish Central Police Register to determine the crime statistics associated with these patients. Analysis was conducted by calculating the observed number of crimes actually committed in relation to the expected rate. It was found that 45 men and 9 women were responsible for 164 criminal offenses, and that the crime rate among schizophrenic women was about twice the expected rate, while among schizophrenic men it was similar to that of the general population. In terms of violence, 4 of the 32 offenders (13 percent) were women, compared with the general Swedish population, were women are responsible for between 5 and 10 percent of violent offenses. Violent crimes, which were on the whole not serious, were about four times more frequent among schizophrenics. From these findings, a clear picture of which schizophrenic patients might best be retained to prevent future criminal conduct cannot be drawn. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Research, Criminal behavior, Prediction of, Prediction of criminal behavior, Statistics, Crime, Criminals, Mentally disabled persons, Schizophrenics, Mentally disabled persons and crime

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