Premorbid competence in schizophrenia: What is being measured?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze whether the Zigler-Phillips premorbid social competence scale assesses one or several dimensions in patient groups differing in regard to gender and type of hospital. The groups investigated were Veterans Administration hospital male (n = 295), state hospital male (« = 300), and state hospital female (« = 300) schizophrenic patients. For all groups, the competence scores reflected three orthogonal factors, but the factorial structure differed as a function of gender and type of hospital. One factor in all groups was defined by the usual socioeconomic variables of education and occupation. Each of the five scale indices was found to make an independent contribution to the variance of the overall competence score, but the education index had a smaller role than the other four measures. Female patients had higher competence scores than state hospital males, a difference that was not due to the marital status variable alone. Possible explanations for this finding were discussed, and suggestions were made for refinement and further development of the scale.

Gender differences in premorbid social adjustment and intimacy motivation in schizophrenia

“…The present study failed to confirm a number of overall gender differences that have been reported in premorbid adjustment (Farina et al, 1962;Goldstein, 1988;Pogue-Geile & Harrow, 1985;Zigler & Levine, 1981) and social withdrawal (Dworkin, 1990). Goldstein (1988) has suggested that females have a better course of illness than males, particularly marked by fewer hospitalizations.…”

“…For example, Foerster, Lewis, Owen, and Murray (1991), Goldstein, Tsuang and Faraone (1989), Salokangas (1983Salokangas ( , 1990, and Zigler & Levine (1981) have reported that male schizophrenics evidence lower levels of premorbid adjustment overall than females. Likewise, Dworkin (1990) has reported greater social withdrawal and poorer premorbid competence for males than for females.…”

Impaired effort allocation in patients with schizophrenia

“…Exclusion criteria for the SZ were: IQ lower than 85, a prior history of head trauma/neurological disorder, or a history of drug use in the previous year. The severity of symptoms was evaluated with SANS and SAPS interviews (Andreasen, 1984a, b; Zigler and Levine, 1981). Subjects were then instructed to complete the Effort-Expenditure for Rewards Task (EEfRT).…”

Simple schizophrenia: an investigation of Bleuler's criteria based on the major twin studies of schizophrenia

“…A second clinical psychologist and an advanced clinical psychology graduate student rated each of the case histories on the Phillips Abbreviated Scale of Premorbid Sexual Adjustment (12, 13) and on the Dworkin Zigler-Phillips Social Competence Scale (14,15). Both scales were used because it has been noted that the Zigler-Phillips scale may not adequately assess social relationships (14)(15)(16).…”