Introduction: Understanding the relationship between neurocognition and social functioning in patients with schizophrenia is essential to determining rehabilitation strategies.
Objective: To investigate the degree of neurocognitive impairment and social functioning in patients with schizophrenia, from a vocational rehabilitation perspective.
Methods: This study is a sub-analysis of our previous study. All study participants had schizophrenia. They were interviewed using the Japanese version of the Satisfaction with Daily Occupations and Occupational Balance (SDO-OB-J) instrument. Neurocognition was assessed through the Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B), and the subjects were divided into mild- and severe-impairment groups based on the mean TMT-B scores for each age group. The modified Global Assessment of Functioning (mGAF) scale was used to assess social functioning. The two groups were compared for their mGAF scores and whether the participants were working or receiving vocational rehabilitation services.
Results: The participants included 27 community-dwelling individuals with schizophrenia (mild-impairment group: n=12; severe-impairment group: n=15). All participants with mild impairments received vocational rehabilitation. The severe-impairment group consisted of part-time workers (n=3), without vocational rehabilitation (n=5) and with vocational rehabilitation (n=7). The two groups showed no significant difference in mGAF scores. Six in the mild-impairment group and seven in the severe-impairment group reported "in balance" for occupational balance.
Conclusions: For individuals with mild cognitive impairment, provision of vocational rehabilitation services is considered part of an employment strategy.
However, further detailed studies are needed for those with severe cognitive impairment, as some are already working part-time, while others do not participate in vocational rehearsal.