Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Granholm, E. Articles by Jeste, D. V. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Granholm, E. Articles by Jeste, D. V. Geriatric Psychiatry Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders Behavior Therapy Cognitive Therapy Other Psychotherapy

A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training for Middle-Aged and Older Outpatients With Chronic Schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: The number of older patients with chronic schizophrenia is increasing. There is a need for empirically validated psychotherapy interventions for these patients. Cognitive behavioral social skills training teaches cognitive and behavioral coping techniques, social functioning skills, problem solving, and compensatory aids for neurocognitive impairments. The authors compared treatment as usual with the combination of treatment as usual plus cognitive behavioral social skills training. METHOD: The randomized, controlled trial included 76 middle-aged and older outpatients with chronic schizophrenia, who were assigned to either treatment as usual or combined treatment. Cognitive behavioral social skills training was administered over 24 weekly group sessions. Blind raters assessed social functioning, psychotic and depressive symptoms, cognitive insight, and skill mastery. RESULTS: After treatment, the patients receiving combined treatment performed social functioning activities significantly more frequently than the patients in treatment as usual, although general skill at social functioning activities did not differ significantly. Patients receiving cognitive behavioral social skills training achieved significantly greater cognitive insight, indicating more objectivity in reappraising psychotic symptoms, and demonstrated greater skill mastery. The overall group effect was not significant for symptoms, but the greater increase in cognitive insight with combined treatment was significantly correlated with greater reduction in positive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: With cognitive behavioral social skills training, middle-aged and older outpatients with chronic schizophrenia learned coping skills, evaluated anomalous experiences with more objectivity (achieved greater cognitive insight), and improved social functioning. Additional research is needed to determine whether cognitive insight mediates psychotic symptom change in cognitive behavior therapy for psychosis.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Wykes, C. Steel, B. Everitt, and N. Tarrier Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Schizophrenia: Effect Sizes, Clinical Models, and Methodological Rigor Schizophr Bull, May 1, 2008; 34(3): 523 - 537. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Turkington, D. Kingdon, and P. J. Weiden Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Schizophrenia Focus, January 1, 2008; 6(2): 257 - 266. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Berry, R. Drake, C. Stewart, L. M. Aitkin, J. Byrne, C. Barrowclough, and N. Purandare Orofacial Dyskinesia, Frontal Lobe Dysfunction, and Coping in Older People With Psychosis Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, September 1, 2007; 15(9): 800 - 806. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Granholm, S. P. Verney, D. Perivoliotis, and T. Miura Effortful Cognitive Resource Allocation and Negative Symptom Severity in Chronic Schizophrenia Schizophr Bull, May 1, 2007; 33(3): 831 - 842. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y.-T. XIANG, Y.-Z. WENG, W.-Y. LI, L. GAO, G.-L. CHEN, L. XIE, Y.-L. CHANG, W.-K. TANG, and G. S. UNGVARI Efficacy of the Community Re-Entry Module for patients with schizophrenia in Beijing, China: outcome at 2-year follow-up The British Journal of Psychiatry, January 1, 2007; 190(1): 49 - 56. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Kopelowicz, R. P. Liberman, and R. Zarate Recent Advances in Social Skills Training for Schizophrenia Schizophr Bull, October 1, 2006; 32(suppl_1): S12 - S23. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Pfammatter, U. M. Junghan, and H. D. Brenner Efficacy of Psychological Therapy in Schizophrenia: Conclusions From Meta-analyses Schizophr Bull, October 1, 2006; 32(suppl_1): S64 - S80. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. R. Pinninti and C. J. Datto Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Clozapine Synergy in an Older Adult With Schizophrenia? Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, August 1, 2006; 14(8): 717 - 718. [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Turkington, D. Kingdon, and P. J. Weiden Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Schizophrenia Am J Psychiatry, March 1, 2006; 163(3): 365 - 373. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2005 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us