Symptoms and social functioning features in chronic schizophrenia are aggregate in a tripartite structure

OBJECTIVE: To verify the association between schizophrenic symptoms and multidimensional variables of social functioning and to look for a possible classification based on an empirical classification outcome oriented. DESIGN: Forty chronic schizophrenic patients, with a diagnosis ascertained through clinical interview and diagnostic criteria were enrolled in the study. SETTING: All patients were followed in a State Mental Health center and were assessed in a stabilized phase of illness. PRINCIPAL OUTCOME MEASURES: Psychopathological assessment was made with PANSS and CGI. Psychosocial assessment was made with Life Skills Profile and Global Functioning Scale. RESULTS: A pervasive correlation among symptoms and psychosocial variables emerged suggesting a unitary concept of behavior related to diagnosis. Factor analysis revealed 2 main components able to explain the 79% of variance. Cluster analysis separated the patients in 3 different groups showing that clinical symptoms are aggregated with specific variables of social functioning. CONCLUSION: Schizophrenic symptoms and social functioning are organized in a tripartite structure. It suggests the existence of three different syndromes that are outcome oriented, and compatible with an unitary concept of schizophrenia.