Effectiveness and replicability of modules for teaching social and instrumental skills to the severely mentally ill.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the effectiveness and replicability of psychoeducational modules designed to improve the social and instrumental competencies of severely mentally ill patients.


METHODS
Staff in seven facilities used the modules to teach 108 severely mentally ill patients. Staff received 2 days of formal training followed by periodic consultation. Each module's effectiveness was measured by a test of the patients' knowledge and performance of the skills taught in that module. Staff's adherence to the instructional techniques specified in the modules was measured by directly observing them and assessing the fidelity of their behaviors to those specified in the modules.


RESULTS
The patients' skills significantly improved and were maintained during a 1-year follow-up, and staff accurately followed the modules with minimal consultation.


CONCLUSIONS
These training modules are effective and replicable techniques for teaching social and instrumental skills to severely mentally ill patients. The modules can be easily disseminated to a variety of facilities and used as components in a comprehensive rehabilitation program.
Wallace
C J
CJ
Clinical Research Center for Schizophrenia and Psychiatric Rehabilitation, UCLA School of Medicine.
Liberman
R P
RP
MacKain
S J
SJ
Blackwell
G
G
Eckman
T A
TA
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000818:Animals; D003479:Curriculum; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006120:Grooming; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011998:Recreation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards