Social functioning in schizophrenia patients and its relationship between cognitive functioning and level of expressed emotion

ABSTRACT Objective: Deficits in social functioning is a very significant problem in the whole process of schizophrenia and a very effective factor preventing the patients from having an independent life. The purpose of the study is to examine the relationship between social functioning and cognitive functioning and the level of expressed emotion among patients, and contribute to the literature aiming to increase the social functioning of schiozphrenia patients. Method: 34 diagnosed schizpohrenia patients and 34 healthy controls, in total 68 volunteers participated in the study. Neurocognitive Test Battery scores of healthy controls' and Neurocognitive Test Battery, Social Functioning Scale (SFS) and Level of Expressed Emotion (LEE) scores of patients are analyzed and evaluated. Results: Schizophrenia patients performed significantly worse on cognitive functioning tasks compared to healthy controls. A correlation between some of the cognitive functioning tasks, specifically executive functioning tasks and SFS was observed. Moreover, there is a significant correlation between social functioning and clinical symptoms and emotional response in LEE and social functioning. Conclusion: Cognitive deficits are observed in schizophrenia. Social functioning in schizophrenia highy correlated to the clinical symptoms and caregivers attitude towards the patient. Key Words: social functioning in schizophrenia, cognitive functioning, level of expressed emotion