This study was conducted to examine stability of performance in emotion processing and social perception over a 5-year follow-up, and to test 5-year longitudinal associations between social cognition and community functioning. Over 40 patient participants were recruited into the study from the Center for Neurocognition and Emotion in Schizophrenia at the University of California, Los Angeles, United States of America. At baseline, included participants were aged 18 to 55 years, and had a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Participants were assessed at baseline and approximately 5 years later.