Differences in social functioning among patients with major psychiatric disorders: Interpersonal communication is impaired in patients with schizophrenia and correlates with an increase in schizotypal traits. (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yasuyama, Toshiki; Ohi, Kazutaka; Shimada, Takamitsu; Uehara, Takashi; Kawasaki, Yasuhiro
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 249(2017)
• Page Start: 30
• Page End: 34
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: Schizophrenia -- Depression -- Bipolar -- Social functioning -- Interpersonal communication -- Schizotypal personality trait; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.12.053
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: Impaired social functioning is a hallmark of major psychiatric disorders. The purpose of this study was to detect a disorder-specific factor of social dysfunction among patients with major psychiatric disorders (PSY), including schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BIP) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Social functioning was assessed in patients with SCZ ( n =80), BIP ( n =27) or MDD ( n =29) and healthy controls (HC, n =68) using the Social Functioning Scale (SFS). Compared to HC, the SCZ, BIP and MDD patient groups showed lower total SFS scores. No differences in the total scores for social functioning were observed between patient groups. We next investigated seven subscales of the SFS among PSY and observed significant diagnostic effects on all subscales of the SFS. Notably, patients with SCZ have poorer interpersonal communication than patients with MDD. Furthermore, the poorer interpersonal communication score was significantly correlated with an increase in schizotypal personality traits, as assessed by the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) in HC. Although there were no differences in overall social functioning among PSY, disorder-specific factors, such as interpersonal communication, were evident in SCZ. The correlation between poor interpersonal communication and the increase in schizotypal traits suggests that poor interpersonal communication may be an intermediate phenotype of SCZ. Highlights: We investigated social functioning among SCZ, BIP and MDD patient groups. Social functioning was assessed using the Social Functioning Scale. SCZ exhibited impairments in interpersonal communication of the social functioning. Poorer interpersonal communication was correlated with higher schizotypal traits. Interpersonal communication may be one of the intermediate phenotypes of SCZ.