DIFFERENTIAL-EFFECTS OF SYMPTOMS ON REHABILITATION AND ADJUSTMENT IN PEOPLE WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

In a study of the validity of a new interview for assessing rehabilita tion readiness, 25 clients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disor der were adininistered the new interview and also received ratings of positive, negative, and disorganized symptoms Separate regression anal yses were calculated to determine the effects of symptoms on each of t he three dimensions of rehabilitation functioning: readiness for rehab ilitation, participation in rehabilitation group treatments, and globa l functioning. Negative symptoms were associated with ratings of readi ness, while disorganized symptoms influenced participation, and positi ve symptoms bad the strongest influence on global functioning. The res ults suggest that symptoms exert a differential effect on the rehabili tation process, and that further research is needed to clarify the sub tle relationships between illness and functioning in rehabilitation pr ograms.