Poor psychosocial functioning is one of the defining characteristics of schizophrenia.
A wealth of evidence shows that impaired social skills in occupational, social, and recreational situations are strongly related to worse psychosocial adjustment in clients with schizophrenia. Furthermore, impairments in social skill often predate the onset of schizophrenia, are present at the first episode, are stable over time in the absence of psychosocial treatment,
and persist into senescence.