Relationship between prospective memory and social functioning in patients with schizophrenia

Objective To investigate the event-based prospective memory(EBPM)and time-based prospective memory(TBPM)in stable patients with schizophrenia and to explore the relationships between prospective memory and social functioning. Methods 40 schizophrenic patients and 40 normal controls matched in age, gender and education were assessed with a neuropsychological battery of tests including EBPM and TBPM tasks.The patients were also assessed with social disability screening schedule(SDSS). Results A statistically significant in EBPM was observed between patients with schizophrenia and normal controls (4.18±1.04 vs 5.33±0.86, t=-5.408, P<0.0l) and the same result in TBPM(3.45±1.48 vs 5.20±0.82, t=-6.522, P<0.0l). In patients with schizophrenia TBPM was impaired more significantly than EBPM (z=-3.238, P<0.01). After controlling the total score of PANSS, the negatively correlate was showed between the total scores of SDSS and EBPM (r=-0.346, P<0.05), TBPM (r=-0.374, P<0.05) in the patients. Conclusion The results suggest schizophrenic patients impairs both EBPM and TBPM, and TBPM is impaired more significantly than EBPM.PM shows positively correlated with social functioning moderately in the patient. Key words: Schizophrenia; Social functioning; Memory