A Conceptual Model For Assessing Psychosocial Functioning In People Living With Schizophrenia

INTRODUCTION:
Schizophrenia is a serious mental health disorder impacting all aspects of life in people living with schizophrenia (PLS), many of whom have a limited response to current treatments. This study’s aim was to confirm and refine a novel conceptual model (CM) used for assessment of psychosocial functioning in PLS and to provide a visual representation of symptom impact on daily life.
METHODS:
Insights from the 2022 Voice of the Patient (VoP) report and a targeted literature review (TLR) were used to describe the PLS experience and inform development of the preliminary CM. Qualitative interviews with clinicians were used to evaluate and refine the CM.
RESULTS:
Findings from the VoP report and TLR informed a preliminary CM with 70 signs and symptoms and 23 impacts across 4 domains (socially useful activities, relationships, self-care, and disturbing/aggressive behaviors). Insights were refined through interviews with 10 clinicians, who described hallucinations, social withdrawal, and cognitive deficits as symptoms with the most impact and need for treatment, and reported an inadequate treatment response in 20–70% of PLS. Clinician feedback led to a finalized CM with 75 symptoms and 28 functional impacts across 9 domains.
CONCLUSIONS:
The VoP report and TLR insights demonstrated the daily impact of schizophrenia on PLS. Clinician feedback confirmed this burden and highlighted the high unmet treatment need in PLS. The resulting CM provides a foundation for clinical outcome assessment strategies and a tool to improve clinicians’ understanding of the impact of schizophrenia on daily life.