RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COGNITIVE AND SOCIAL DYSFUNCTION IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

This cross-sectional study examined the relationships between cognitiv e functioning, social functioning, and social problem solving in a sam ple of 30 outpatients with schizophrenia. The cognitive battery includ ed measures of verbal ability, memory, executive functioning, visual-s patial ability, and attention. Social functioning was assessed with th e Social Dysfunction Index (SDI) and the Social Adjustment Scale-II (S AS-II). Social problem solving was assessed with a video-based test, t he Assessment of Interpersonal Problem-solving Skills (AIPSS). No sign ificant association was found between social functioning as assessed b y the SDI and the SAS-II and cognitive functioning. In multiple regres sion analyses, a measure of attention, the auditory Continuous Perform ance Test was a significant predictor of processing and sending skills , as assessed by the AIPSS (F=16.37, 9.23, p<0.001). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.