Differential Effects of Symptoms on Rehabilitation and Adjustment in People with Schizophrenia

In a study of the validity of a new interview for assessing rehabilitation readiness, 25 clients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were administered the new interview, and also received ratings of positive, negative, and disorganized symptoms. Separate regression analyses were calculated to determine the effects of symptoms on each of the three dimensions of rehabilitation functioning: readiness for rehabilitation, participation in rehabilitation group treatments, and global functioning. Negative symptoms were associated with ratings of readiness, while disorganized symptoms influenced participation, and positive symptoms had the strongest influence on global functioning. The results suggest that symptoms exert a differential effect on the rehabilitation process, and that further research is needed to clarify the subtle relationships between illness and functioning in rehabilitation programs.