Research Article | Open Access
Social cognition and its influence on adaptation of people who suffered from the first psychotic episode of schizophrenia
Kseniya N. Shvets*, Victor A. Ruzhenkov, Victoria V. Ruzhenkova, Natalia K. Rzhevskaya Konstantin Yu. Retyunsky
Pages: None-None
Abstract
Relevance. Social cognition covers different fields that include a human ability to
recognize and identify emotions, apperceive mental states and intentions,
understand roles, rules and aims that are a base of social interaction. Disorder in
these abilities of people diagnosed with schizophrenia may cause social
dysfunctions. Goal of research is verification of social intelligence characteristics
and social intelligence influence on adaptation of people diagnosed with
schizophrenia suffered from the first psychotic episode in order to elaborate
recommendations relating psychosocial treatment and rehabilitation. Material and
methods. 145 patients suffered from the first psychotic episode at the age from 15 to
40 have been screened. Clinical and psychopathological, psychometric methods of
research were applied (PSP and GAF Scales, PANSS, test «Social intelligence» by
J. P. Guilford). Results. People diagnosed with schizophrenia suffered from the first
psychotic episode by the time of the fist hospitalizing had significant social
maladjustment in their families and production sphere: 68.3% did not have families
and 41.4% were homeless. Having suffered from the first psychotic episode, 37.7%
of people got decreasing individual's social status. According to all the subtests of
«social cognition» of J. P. Guilford all the representatives of the control group
(mentally sane) left beyond those diagnosed with schizophrenia. Patients with a
higher education and incomplete higher education were able to recognize nonverbal
behavior (below average) in a greater degree. Conclusion. It is required to arrange
a psychosocial training to improve understanding different aspects of nonverbal
communication by people diagnosed with schizophrenia, that is what may help to
increase social functioning level
Keywords
schizophrenia, social integration, social intelligence.