Evaluating social skill in individuals with schizophrenia with the brief impression questionnaire (BIQ). (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lanser, Isabelle; Browne, Julia; Pinkham, Amy E.; Harvey, Philip D.; Jarskog, L. Fredrik; Penn, David L.
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 269(2018)
• Page Start: 38
• Page End: 44
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: Social skill -- Social functioning -- Schizophrenia -- Social cognition; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.08.047
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Highlights: Assessed a novel social skills tool for use in schizophrenia. Results supported the potential utility of brief impressions as a measure of social skill. Total score was associated with total symptoms and social skill. Total score differentiated healthy controls and individuals with schizophrenia. Abstract: Current social skill assessments for individuals with schizophrenia require extensive administration times, training, and coding procedures, thus limiting their clinical utility. The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Brief Impression Questionnaire (BIQ), a novel measure designed to utilize immediate impression formation in the assessment of social skill in schizophrenia. An exploratory factor analysis of the BIQ was conducted, and relationships between the extracted factors and measures of social cognition and functioning were assessed. Additionally, we assessed differences on the BIQ between individuals with schizophrenia and control participants. Twenty-two research assistants at three sites rated participants using the BIQ (154 control participants and 218 individuals with schizophrenia). The results revealed identical one-factor structures for both participant groups. For both groups, the BIQ total score was positively associated with performance on social cognitive and everyday functioning assessments. Further, control participants were rated more positively on all BIQ items and received higher BIQ total scores. In the schizophrenia sample, BIQ scores predicted performance on social functioning assessments while controlling for symptom severity. These results indicate that impression formation may be a viable and efficient tool to measure aspects of social cognition and functioning in people with schizophrenia.