The remediation of problem-solving skills in schizophrenia.
Efforts to remediate the problem-solving deficits of patients with schizophrenia have met with circumscribed success. This could be viewed as a sign of the immutability of the deficit or, alternatively, as a reflection of the inefficacy of the training techniques used. This study examined the feasibility of using problem-solving teaching techniques developed within educational psychology for remediating the problem-solving deficits of inpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. These techniques rely on intrinsic motivation and task engagement, which are promoted through contextualization, personalization, and control of learning activities. A sample of 54 patients who demonstrated problem-solving and memory deficits on psychometric testing were randomly assigned to a problem-solving group, a memory training group, or a control group. Patients who received ten sessions of problem-solving remediation showed significantly more improvement on the outcome measure that assessed problem-solving skills required for independent living. Patients who received ten sessions of memory training did not improve on problem-solving measures. These results suggest that patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders are responsive to problem-solving training techniques that promote intrinsic motivation and task engagement.
Medalia
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A
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA. amedalia@aol.com
Revheim
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N
Casey
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M
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving; D012073:Remedial Teaching; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome