Metabolic syndrome (MS) is an often co-occurring condition that occurs during antipsychotic therapy and impairs social functioning

We tried to conduct a self - evaluation of social adaptation in patients with schizophrenia and MS

We examined 150 patients with schizophrenia receiving antipsychotic therapy at the clinics of Mental Health Research Institute. The study was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation 18-15-00011. The IDF criteria were used to diagnose metabolic syndrome. We used «The social adaptation self - evaluation scale» (SASS).

63 patients (42%) had MS and 87 patients (58%) did not. In the subgroup of patients with MS, 59 people (93.65%) had disabilities or were unemployed, in the group without MS - 82 (94.26%) patients. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups (p ≥ 0.05). In the patients with schizophrenia and concomitant MS, the median SSAS scores was 35 [29; 39], which corresponds mainly to a high level of self - evaluation of social adaptation. At the same time, in patients with schizophrenia and without MS, on the contrary, the self - evaluation of social adaptation was 30 [23; 38] points (p = 0.03914). Perhaps this is due to the great attention from relatives and doctors of general somatic practice and the primary medical network in connection with the risk of developing severe somatic pathology.

Patients with MS can give a higher assessment of social adaptation, despite a objectively low social status.

No significant relationships.

The internet is now widely used by people with mental disorders, and it is important to understand whether the internet use can affect the mental state of such people.

The aim of the study was to assess the relation between the internet usage for communication and the quality of the social adaptation in men with mental disorders.

82 male patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (F20) were involved into the study (mean age 22±4.3). Methods: SCL-90R, “social circle” inventory (Susan L., Phillips), semi-structured interview of “internet usage” (“communicative internet usage” consists of communication in on-line games, use of the internet social networks for communication, use the internet to find new friends, maintaining relationships with relatives, friends, colleagues.

Two groups of patients were considered: those who use internet for communicative purposes (N=61) and those who do not (N=21).According to the analysis (Mann-Witney U-test, hereinafter significance level *p<0.05), those who use the internet for communication have lower levels of psychotic symptoms (PSY) (U=446*), lower levels of “depression” (U=453*). Those who use the internet for communication have more people in social circle to spend free time (U=910,5*), having the same occupation (U=860*), having the same interests (U=867,5*) and sharing the same values (U=873*).They have more friends (U=804*), peers (U=814*), more women among friends (U=793*), more people to provide instrumental support (U=761,5*).

Patients, who use the internet for communications, have a lower levels of psychopathological symptoms and higher quality of social adaptation. This indicates a possible potential of the internet for mental health rehabilitation.

No significant relationships.

In Russia there was a misconception about employment of people with physical or cognitive disability that served as a psychological barrier for both employers and applicants. The situation has recently changed and special vacancies for invalids are open in some companies. A patient in residual period of traumatic brain injury (2010) attended our rehabilitation center with the request for employment. He grew up in orphanage and he had no experience of searching for vacancies by himself, also he had reduced communication skills. Moreover, TBI resulted in strong executive functions impairment.

Help V with employment.

Holistic rehabilitation program was developed for V. so he had a training in computer skills, CV writing and communication with employer. Cognitive-behavioral therapy methods were used while working on understanding of his limits and acceptance of his disability, and goal management training was applied to reduce frontal lobes dysfunction.

After 1.5 months of counseling V. demonstrated significant improvement. He started to use e-mail and the Internet to find job openings. He was able to keep independent control of his activities. V. managed to accept his disability, so he declared it in his CV – it finally became crucial in his successful employment as clerk in a bank.

Holistic approach, which includes social work, neuropsychological rehabilitation and psychological support, is promising to overcome psychological barrier in employment of disabled people.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.