A Comparative Study of Neuro-Cognition, Social Cognition and Functional Behaviour between Schizophrenic Patients and the Normal Population

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to understand and compare the effects of neurocognition, social cognitive profile, and work behaviour patterns on interpersonal relationships between people suffering from schizophrenia and the normal population. A total sample of 50 participants: 25 patients suffering from schizophrenia recruited from the hospital for mental health, Ahmadabad and 25 normal people collected from the community in Ahmedabad. Schizophrenic participants were screened using PANSS. The NIMHANS Neuropsychological Battery is used to measure cognitive functioning; the Edinburg Social Cognition Test is used to measure social cognition; and the Work Behaviour Inventory is used to measure functional behaviour. For analysis, descriptive statistics, the t test, and correlation were used. The result found that in neuro-cognition as well as functional behaviour, normal groups performed significantly better when compared to schizophrenic groups. Similarly, in social cognition, normal groups performed better than schizophrenic groups. Additionally, the present study found positive relationships between each and every domain, which we discuss in detail. The results of the present study support previous research showing that normal populations performed better than schizophrenic populations.