ABSTRACT

Objective : The purposes of this study were to investigate relationships between occupational performance skills and symptoms in persons with schizophrenia and to identify factors affecting occupational performance skills. Methods : The participants were 30 in-patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. The Assessment of Motor and Process Skills(AMPS) was used for measuring occupational performance skills and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale-Extended(BPRS-E) was employed to evaluate psychopathologies. Self perception of difficulties was measured with the Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale(BASIS-32) and social and interpersonal skills were measured with the Health of Nation Outcome Scale(HoNOS) and the Abbreviated Life Skills Profile-16(LSP-16). The correlations between the AMPS scores and the other scales were examined and stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to identify the predictive variables that explain changes of occupational performance skills. Results : Occupational performance skills of schizophrenic patients were related to their psychotic symptoms. Especially negative symptom and manic symptom were related to both motor and process skills and coefficients were statistically significant. Statistically significant relationship was found between disorientation and process skills. In stepwise multiple regression analysis, the LSP-16 total scores and behavioral problem of the HoNOS were identified variables that explained the changes of motor skills. The LSP-16 total scores and manic symptom of the BPRS-E were identified as the major predictive variables of motor skills. Conclusion : Various variables affecting occupational performance skills were identified. These results could help to establish specialized and systematic occupational therapy intervention in mental health. Further research is warranted to support effectiveness of occupational therapy program.