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Social anxiety and negative symptoms as the characteristics of patients with schizophrenia who show competence–performance discrepancy in social functioning
Author(s) -
Nemoto Takahiro,
Uchino Takashi,
Aikawa Sayaka,
Saito Junichi,
Matsumoto Hiroshi,
Funatogawa Tomoyuki,
Yamaguchi Taiju,
Katagiri Naoyuki,
Tsujino Naohisa,
Mizuno Masafumi
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/pcn.12848
Subject(s) - psychopathology , social competence , psychology , competence (human resources) , social skills , anxiety , social anxiety , clinical psychology , psychiatry , social change , social psychology , economics , economic growth
Aim Although competence and performance in relation to social functioning usually go hand in hand, it is not uncommon to observe a discrepancy between the two in patients with schizophrenia. The present study was aimed at examining the characteristics of patient groups showing such discrepancy. Methods A total of 205 outpatients with schizophrenia aged ≤40 years old were enrolled. The symptomatology and social functioning were widely assessed. The patients were divided into four groups by the cut‐off scores for competence and performance in relation to social functioning calculated using a comprehensive dataset. Results The subjects were divided according to their level of competence and performance as follows: high competence and high performance (CP) group, 108 (52.7%) patients; high competence, but low performance (Cp) group, 40 (19.5%) patients; low competence, but high performance (cP) group, 13 (6.3%) patients; low competence and low performance (cp) group, 44 (21.5%) patients. One‐way analysis of variance and post‐hoc comparisons revealed significantly worse negative symptoms, general psychopathology scores, global functioning, and quality of life in the Cp group than in the CP group, and significantly better social anxiety symptoms, global functioning, and quality of life in the cP group than in the cp group. Conclusion In patients who are capable, but do not perform well, negative symptoms may be involved in the discrepancy. Patients who are able to maintain themselves well despite low social competence appear to have milder social anxiety symptoms as compared to patients who are neither competent nor perform well.