AN EMPIRICAL-METHOD FOR ASSESSING SOCIAL-PROBLEM SOLVING IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

The development of a multimethod social problem-solving battery for sc hizophrenia is de scribed. The battery is unique in that empirical met hods were used throughout its development. The battery includes compon ents that tap skills for response generation and response evaluation. The behavioral components of social problem solving are assessed in an extended role-play format. Individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, as well as nonpatient controls, completed the social proble m-solving battery and cognitive measures. Subjects in the schizophreni a group performed more poorly than controls on measures of the ability to generate and evaluate response alternatives, as well as on the rol e-play test. The two patient groups did not differ in performance on a ny of the social problem-solving components. Appropriateness of affect was the most powerful predictor of problem-solving effectiveness.