title: Best practices: The development of the Social Cognition and Interaction Training program for schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
abstract: This column describes the development of a treatment, the Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) program, a group-based intervention delivered weekly over a six-month period, with the purpose of improving both social cognition and social functioning among persons with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. SCIT comprises three phases: emotion training, figuring out situations, and integration. Initial pilot testing of 17 inpatients showed that SCIT was associated with improved emotion perception, improved theory of mind, and a reduced tendency to attribute hostile intent to others, with effect sizes being in the medium-large range. Although research is still in the early phases, SCIT is a potential best practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Davie Hall, CB#3270, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3270, USA. dpenn@email.unc.edu
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Penn
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Combs
authors.forename: Abram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sterne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D018187:Personal Construct Theory; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States