Symptoms and socio-occupational functioning among persons with schizophrenia during coronavirus disease 2019: A cross-sectional study from a tertiary care government hospital in India

BACKGROUND: Persons with schizophrenia experience problems in their living, working, social relationships, learning, and employment, giving rise to the various levels of dysfunctions in different areas according to different sociocultural backgrounds. They have needs related to psychiatric treatment compliance, socialization, vocational training, interpersonal relationships, enhancing the skills of daily living, and meaningful employment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional and simple random sampling technique was used to recruit 40 people with schizophrenia for the research at Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Dharwad, India. Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms and Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scales (SOFASs) were used for data collection. RESULTS: The majority (71%) of the patients were male, and their age was under 31-year to 55-year category. Majority (43%) of the respondents were suffering from mild disability, and their SOFA score lay below 40, followed by 42.9% of the respondents who were suffering from moderate disability, and their SOFA score was between 41 and 70. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that social and occupational functioning, symptoms, and disability of the persons with schizophrenia were correlated and worsened during coronavirus disease 2019.