Social performance and readmission in acute and chronic schizophrenics: comparison of two approaches.

Schizophrenics classified into acute, chronic, and high-low social competence groups were compared in terms of comprehensive social functioning and life stress. Results obtained with 624 patients showed overlap between the two classifications in functioning in eight areas of psychosocial activity. Interpersonal relationships differentiated acutes-chronics while antisocial behavior separated high from low social competence subjects. For stress three areas were common to both classifications. The acutes-chronics differed on work and interpersonal stress while leisure time stress differentiated competence groups. Predictability by comprehensive functioning measure identified readmission variables for acutes while social competence did not. For chronics, comprehensive functioning identified isolated psycosocial factors as predictors.