Correlation between the Personal and Social Performance scale (PSP) and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) in a Greek sample of patients with schizophrenia

Abstract

BackgroundPsychosocial dysfunction is one of schizophrenia’s core features, often leading to a deprecation of independent living and significant failure to maintain a competent quality of life. Cognitive and occupational performance as well as psychosocial functioning is moreover recognized as determinants of treatment response. Therefore, the elaboration of measures regarding social performance besides scales that assess psychopathology is essential. The Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale has been found to be as much valid as reliable for assessing social functioning in the acute and stable stage of schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to estimate the correlation between the PSP and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) (convergent validity) in patients with schizophrenia during routine clinical practice.MethodsA longitudinal study with a six-month follow-up is presented. Correlation between the PSP scale and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was conducted in a Greek sample of 2010 patients with schizophrenia in outpatient setting in two successive visits. PANSS and PSP scales were used for the assessment of psychopathological symptoms and social and personal functioning.ResultsThe PSP subscales scores were well correlated with each other with Spearman correlation coefficients (r) ranging from 0.56 to 0.76 on both visits in three out of the four main areas, whereas in the category of “disturbing and aggressive behavior” the correlations were lower but still significant. Furthermore, total PSP score showed high association to PANSS total score in the first (r = -0.59) as well as in the second visit (r = -0.50). Regression analysis showed that one point decrease of PANSS’s total score is associated with a 0.42 points increase on the PSP scale. PSP and PANSS scales exhibited high convergent validity.ConclusionsThe PSP could provide additional valuable information in the assessment of schizophrenia related social functioning and treatment response.

Psychotic Symptoms and Attitudes toward Medication Mediate the Effect of Insight on Personal-Social Functions in Patients with Schizophrenia: One-Year Randomized Controlled Trial and Follow-Up

“…Neither the baseline speed of cognitive processing nor the attitude toward medication mediated the relationship between insight and personal-social functioning. A previous study showed that PSPS scores are associated with PANSS total scores [47]. The present study indicates that effect of insight on personal-social performance for patients with schizophrenia is mainly associated with the severity of psychotic symptoms, independently of the treatment method and stage of illness.…”

“…First, we did not find the mediating effect of baseline neurocognitive factors (speed of processing) on the relationship between insight and personal-social function; future investigations with more comprehensive evaluations of the mediating effect of baseline neuropsychological function, especially other cognitive dimensions (e.g., social cognition and executive function), on personal-social function would be necessary. Second, the PSP and PANSS scales exhibit a high convergent validity: a 1-point decrease in the PANSS total score is associated with a 0.42-point increase in the PSPS [47]; it will generally be better to select mediators that represent unique constructs with as little conceptual overlap as possible, which will minimize colinearity. Third, we followed up the outcome for 1 year only; future investigations for effects over a much longer period would be necessary.…”

Social functioning and the quality of life of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia

“…The goal of the researchers was to assess the correlation between the Personal and Social Performance (PSP) Scale and PANSS in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia during routine clinical practice. The study showed that both scales provide convergent results [5].…”

“…Larger IQ impairments in the FE (first episode of schizophrenia) compared to the premorbid period, but comparable to later phases of illness suggests deterioration between premorbid and FE phases followed by deficit stability at the group level [6].…”

Factors related to improvement of symptoms, function, and caregiver burden in Chinese patients with schizophrenia after switching to paliperidone palmitate once-monthly from oral antipsychotics

“…These factors include severity of disease at baseline, employment and financial status, disease duration, hospitalizations, medication dose, and disease- and medication-associated scores (adherence, satisfaction, and preference), and have been analyzed for their potential association with treatment outcomes. 7 – 9 …”