The association of negative symptoms with social functioning and cognitive impairment in individuals at high risk for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Objective: Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are highly heritable psychiatric disorders which start at a young age and lead to significant functional impairments. Studies with familial high risk (FHR) groups have been increasing for the purpose of early recognition and prevention of these disorders. In this study, we aimed to compare familial high-risk individuals for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and investigate negative symptoms, cognitive functions, social functioning and the predictive factors for these clinical outcomes. Methods: At DEUTF outpatient clinic, 44 individuals with schizophrenia FHR and 42 individuals with bipolar disorder FHR who aged between 18-29 were included in this current study. Participants were selected from relatives of patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and individuals who admitted to the outpatient clinic and fulfill the familial high risk criteria. Negative symptoms of the participants were measured with BNSS, and social functioning levels were measured with PSP. Neurocognitive and social cognitive abilities were also evaluated. Results: The schizophrenia FHR group showed higher negative symptom severity (p:0.006) and lower social funcitioning level (p:0.080) compared to bipolar disorder FHR group. The severity of negative symptoms was found to be negatively correlated with the level of social functioning among all individuals with FHR (r:- 12 0.703). Negative symptoms predicted social functioning better than familial high-risk group type. Conclusion: There was a difference between the schizophrenia and bipolar disorder FHR groups in terms of the severity of negative symptoms and impairment in social functioning. In addition, it has been shown that negative symptoms predict social functioning more accurately than the diagnosis group in the total sample. This indicates that familial high-risk approach could be handled better within the framework of a continuity approach rather than a categorical approach. Longitudinal studies with larger samples are required for the early diagnosis and prevention interventions to be effective.