Predicting Schizophrenia Patients’ Real-World Behavior with Specific Neuropsychological and Functional Capacity Measures

Abstract

Differential predictors of functional competence and performance were found from discrete NP domains. Separating competence and performance provides a more precise perspective on correlates of disability. Changes in specific NP or functional skills might improve specific outcomes, rather than promoting global functional improvement.

Review paper. Neuropsychological dimension of schizophrenia - evaluation possibilities and therapeutic implications

“…At the end of the 1990s of the twentieth century, many researchers pointed to the cognitive difficulties in patients with schizophrenia -as an "extra" dimension of schizophrenia. This happened also in view of the benefits which may flow from the early detection of cognitive deficits during pre psychotic stage and take appropriate therapeutic measures [30,31,32,33].…”

“…Pod koniec lat 90-tych XX wieku wielu badaczy skierowało uwagę na trudności poznawcze u chorych na schizofrenię -jako "dodatkowy" wymiar schizofrenii. Stało się to również z myślą o korzyściach, jakie płynąć mogą z wczesnego wykrywania deficytów poznawczych w okresie prepsychotycznym i podję-cia stosownych oddziaływań leczniczych [30,31,32,33].…”

Functional capacity: a new framework for the assessment of everyday functioning in schizophrenia

“…13,54 Functional capacity, as assessed by the UPSA, correlates moderately with real-world functioning, 44 but there is good evidence to suggest that it may actually be a mediator between real-world functioning and neuropsychological factors. 8,11 However, while everyday living skills appear to be the most important predictor of home functioning, 12 blunted affect and passive-apathetic social withdrawal accounted for all variance in real-world social outcomes in a recent study, 55 suggesting that these domains may be differently impacted by external factors.…”

“…In recent years, a growing number of studies have focused on functional capacity, 8,[11][12][13][14][15] as this variable appears to be less dependent on nonspecific environmental factors and, as such, be more sensitive to therapeutic interventions. Hence, functional recovery after treatment in schizophrenia is more likely to be readily observed through measures of functional capacity than through real-world functioning, since changes in the latter domain usually take longer to manifest.…”

Advancing paternal age at birth is associated with poorer social functioning earlier and later in life of schizophrenia patients in a founder population

“…Schneider's Specific Level of Functioning Assessment (SLOF) is commonly used to assess functioning in patients with schizophrenia (Bowie et al, 2008). The SLOF was administered to and completed by the patient's caseworker or caregiver to ensure relative objectivity.…”