Abstract

Introduction: Apart from the traditional understanding on the relationship between neurocognitive deficits and functional impairment, there was a recent trend of investigation on the association of neurocognition and social cognition. Importance of neuro-cognitive functions and social functioning in sustaining supported employment among adults with schizophrenia was documented. However, there was little local documentation on the profile of persons with schizophrenia on these two areas.
Method: This is a prospective cohort analysis of forty-four in-patients admitted to a local rehabilitation setting diagnosed with schizophrenia and related disorders. The Matrics Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) was chosen as standard measure.
Results: The results indicated that social cognitive and neurocognitive deficits were common among the subjects with schizophrenia. Social cognition (M = 30.18, SD +/- 11.07), Verbal learning (M = 38.70, SD = 8.46) and Speed of processing (M = 35.09, SD = 14.34) were the three most poorly performed cognitive domains. Social cognition was only significantly correlated with Visual learning (r (44) =.363, p <.05) but not the other neurocognitive domains.
Conclusion: MCCB is a reliable tool for routine assessment of cognitive functions for persons with schizophrenia. Further correlational studies were warranted including symptom severity and subjective measurementsto identify the linkage between these two constructs.