Comparison of Sensory Processing and Semantic Differentiation in Peoples with Schizophrenia, Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s Disease

Aim: The purpose of this study was comparison of sensory processing and semantic differentiation in patients with schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer’s disease. Method: Our research method was causal-comparative. Statistical population were patients with schizophrenia and patients with multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease that are kept by formal caregivers in welfare centers in Guilan or by informal caregivers in families in Rasht city of Guilan province in Iran. 45 persons with MS, Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia (in each group 15 persons) were randomly selected by accessible sampling method in 2014. Then, subjects were asked to response to sensory profile questionnaires to measure of sensory processing and ozgood semantic differentiation questionnaires to measure of semantic differentiation, then raw data were analyzed by multiple analyses of variance with using of spss16 software. Results: P value less than 0.05, namely p < 0.05 was considered as significant. The result showed that there were significant differences between sensory processing and semantic differentiation in patients. Sensory processing of Alzheimer (mean = 48.80 cl 95% = 45.10 - 52.49, p = 0.001 < 0.01), had the maximum mean in three groups. Semantic differentiation of Alzheimer (mean = 26.26 cl 95% = 23.71 - 28.82, p = 0.341 > 0.05), had the maximum mean in three groups. Discussion and Conclusion: Because sensory processing and semantic differentiation aren’t in a desirable condition in patients with schizophrenia, so it is necessary that the people who are at high risk of developing the disease or the initial stages of the disease, must be acted to improve their sensory processing and semantic differentiation.