Technique for training schizophrenic patients in illness self-management: a controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether schizophrenic outpatients receiving low-dose neuroleptic therapy could learn and retain complex information and skills related to self-management of their illness, a novel technique of teaching, using cognitive and behavioral methods, was designed to compensate for the patients' learning disabilities.


METHODS
The subjects were 41 patients with DSM-III-R schizophrenia who were receiving constant maintenance neuroleptic drug therapy. They were randomly assigned to structured, modularized skills training or to supportive group psychotherapy.


RESULTS
The patients who received skills training made significant gains in each of the areas taught, while those participating in group therapy did not. The skills learned during training were retained without significant erosion over a 1-year follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
The effectiveness of modularized teaching of illness self-management skills to schizophrenic patients appears to be largely independent of baseline psychology and symptom improvement. Such an approach is useful for overcoming or compensating for the enduring cognitive and information processing deficits commonly found in schizophrenia.
Eckman
T A
TA
Clinical Research Center for Schizophrenia and Psychiatric Rehabilitation, University of California, School of Medicine, Los Angeles.
Wirshing
W C
WC
Marder
S R
SR
Liberman
R P
RP
Johnston-Cronk
K
K
Zimmermann
K
K
Mintz
J
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012381:Role Playing; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012648:Self Care; D013664:Teaching Materials
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents