ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIAL FUNCTIONING OF PATIENTS WITH NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF THE DISEASE

Abstract

Background. Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that inevitably disrupts the social functioning and adaptation of patients, which can be observed almost throughout the course of the disease. Negative symptoms in the structure of schizophrenia are associated with impairment of the quality of life, daily functioning, social relations and professional activities of patients with schizophrenia, as well as with rarer achievement and the worst quality of remission in the treatment process. The problem of the relationship between negative symptoms at different stages of the schizophrenic process and various components of social functioning remains unresolved. Aim: to determine the features of social functioning in patients with negative symptoms at different stages of the schizophrenic process. Materials and methods. 252 patients with negative symptoms of schizophrenia took part in the study: 83 patients with the onset of schizophrenia (1 group), 88 patients with schizophrenia in a state of exacerbation (2 group) and 81 patients with schizophrenia in a state of remission (3 group). To study various components of social functioning in patients with negative symptoms in schizophrenia, a comprehensive approach was used, consisting in the use of psychometric (personal and social functioning (PSP) scale) and statistical research methods. Results. The assessment of the features of social functioning among patients with negative symptoms in schizophrenia, depending on the state of the disease, made it possible to establish that in patients with the onset of schizophrenia, disturbances in social functioning were noted in the form of moderate violations of personal and social interaction and a moderate decrease in socially useful activities, including work and study. In patients with schizophrenia in the state of exacerbation, significant violations of socially useful activities, severe violations of personal and social interaction, decreased attention to self-care, and pronounced aggressive behavior patterns were noted. In patients with schizophrenia in remission, there were marked impairments in self-care and self-care, moderate impairments in personal and social interaction, and moderate declines in social activities, including work and study. Conclusion. The obtained data can be used to create treatment and rehabilitation programs aimed at restoring the social functioning of patients with negative symptoms in schizophrenia.