The Effects of Psychosocial Skills Training on Symptomatology, Insight, Quality of Life, and Suicide Probability in Schizophrenia
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Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of psychosocial skills training (PST) on symptomatology, insight, quality of life, and suicide probability in patients with schizophrenia. Method: The sample consisted of 22 schizophrenic outpatients diagnosed according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Three PST groups were formed and each group's training lasted approximately 6 months. Nineteen (86%) patients completed the study. The Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms, Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, Calgary Depression Rating Scale for Schizophrenia, Schedule for Assessing the Three Components of Insight, Quality of Life Scale for Patients with Schizophrenia, and Suicide Probability Scale were administered to the patients before and after PST. Results: At the end of the study mean score for the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms score (baseline 8.5 +/- +/- 9.9, post-PST 3.4 +/- +/- 6.0, P = 0.004), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (baseline 33.7 +/- 19.3, post-PST 22.1 +/- +/- 15.7, P = 0.001), Calgary Depression Rating Scale for Schizophrenia (baseline 4.2 +/- +/- 4.1, post-PST 0.7 +/- +/- 1.0, P = 0.001), Schedule for Assessing the Three Components of Insight (baseline 11.1 +/- +/- 3.4, post-PST 16.2 +/- +/- 1.1, P < 0.0001), and Quality of Life Scale for Patients with Schizophrenia (baseline 53.5 +/- +/- 20.0, post-PST 79.6 +/- +/- 20.8, P < 0.0001) changed significantly, whereas the change in mean score for the Suicide Probability Scale (baseline 75.1 +/- +/- 11.7, post-PST 71.3 +/- +/- 8.0, P = 0.06) did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the effects of PST on the symptoms and functioning of patients with schizophrenia. It con be concluded that using PST for the treatment of schizophrenia, as an adjuvant to pharmacotherapy, could produce significant positive results.