Daily task performance and information processing among people with schizophrenia and healthy controls: A comparative study

Introduction: Many individuals with schizophrenia have information processing difficulties. This study investigated the use of information processing skills during the performance of a daily task by participants with schizophrenia and compared it to that of participants without a psychiatric diagnosis. Studies comparing similar groups found differences in the number and types of errors. However, there is limited knowledge about the related problematic information processing skills. This information could help to better pinpoint the needs of this group of clients. Method: Participants were paired based on age and gender. Information processing skills were assessed with the Perceive, Recall, Plan, and Perform system of task analysis. Generalized linear mixed models were used to compare both groups. Results: Individuals with schizophrenia made more accuracy errors and had more difficulties when attending and gathering information and when planning was required during the task. They were also more cognitively impaired than the comparison group. Conclusion: The large number of accuracy errors may result from specific skills deficits that impact on other processing skills or from a general vulnerability affecting most processing skills. In future studies, the influence of employment and of the social environment of housing on task performance should be investigated.