The aim of our cross-sectional study was

1. (1) to assess social and functional impairment in schizophrenia outpatients from the Czech and Slovak Republics, and

2. (2) to examine a relationship between functional impairment and antipsychotic treatment and demographic variables.

Enrolled were schizophrenia outpatients in a stable phase of illness, treated with current antipsychotic medication for a minimum of one month. Recorded were demographic and medication data, administered were Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP), Subjective Well-being Under Neuroleptics (SWN), and CGI scale.

The total number of study subjects was 926. Most PSP values were within the interval of moderate impairment. Functional performance correlated positively with subjective satisfaction with medication and negatively with symptom severity. Higher education predicted better functioning on PSP. The best performance was associated with a stable relationship and a useful work role. The patients who showed the best level of functioning were more likely to be treated with antipsychotic monotherapy. No difference among drugs in monotherapy was found in subjective satisfaction.

The PSP values of stable schizophrenia outpatients indicated moderate degree of impairment. Improvement of functional capacity remains one of the unmet needs of schizophrenia patients.