Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine clinical characteristics associated with participation restriction in middle-aged and older persons with schizophrenia.
Method: Seventy-eight patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, ranging in age from 40 to 81 were included in the study. Participants completed an assessment consisting of sociodemographics, psychiatric symptom severity, depressive symptom severity, cognitive functioning, and participation restriction.
Results: A majority of patients reported experiencing participation restriction. Greater severity of participation restriction was predicted by more severe depressive symptoms, less severe general psychiatric symptoms, and better cognitive functioning. Together, these variables accounted for 45% of variance in participation restriction scores with depressive symptoms accounting for the largest proportion of variance. Participation restriction was not associated with age.
Conclusions: Participation restriction and depressive symptoms are related in individuals with schizophrenia; however, the direction of their relationship is unclear and requires further investigation.