(PS13-D78) Differential Effects of Depressive Symptoms and Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia on Self-perception of Functional Impairment

Introduction: Negative symptoms of schizophrenia and depressive symptoms have similar symptom presentations, including restricted range of affect, anhedonia, and emotional and social withdrawal. Limited research has explored relationship between these symptoms and functional impairment. The present study explores the relationship between functional impairment and negative symptoms of schizophrenia compared to depressive symptoms.

Methods: Forty-six participants (n=46; 45.7 % African American; 78.3 % Male) enrolled in the Early Onset Treatment Program (EOTP), an inpatient treatment program for individuals in the early stages of serious mental illness. At admission, participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) to assess depressive symptoms and symptoms of schizophrenia, respectively. For the present study, only the PANSS negative symptom subscale was examined. Participants also completed the World Health Organization Assessment (WHODAS 2.0) and Severe Outcome Questionnaire (S-OQ) to assess functional impairment.

Results: Spearman’s rank correlations were conducted to examine relationships among variables. There was a non-significant relationship between BDI-II and PANSS negative symptoms subscale, r(46) =.057, p</em>=.708. There were moderate to strong, positive relationships between the BDI-II and functional impairment as measured by the WHODAS 2.0, r(46) =.544, p</em>=< .001), and SO-Q, r(46) =.739, p</em>=< .001. However, the PANSS negative symptom subscale was not significantly related to functional impairment as measured by the WHODAS 2.0, r(46) =-.206, p</em>=.169, and only weakly correlated to the SO-Q, r(46) = -005, p</em>=.975.

Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that although depressive symptoms and negative symptoms of schizophrenia share certain phenomenon, they are unique factors that are differentially associated with perceived functional impairment.  It may be that the phenomenology of depression (e.g., negative thoughts about self, world, and future) impacts expected pleasure and mastery regarding work, relationships/sociality, and leisure, influencing subjective reports of impairment, whereas the negative symptoms of schizophrenia are likely associated with apathetic appraisals of functioning. Furthermore, anosognosia frequently occurs in tandem with negative symptoms of schizophrenia, which may partially explain differences in reported impairment, as negative symptoms are routinely related to observed functional impairment.