title: Social cognition and interaction training (SCIT) for outpatients with schizophrenia: a preliminary study.
abstract: Social functioning deficits (e.g., social skill, community functioning) are a core feature of schizophrenia. These deficits are only minimally improved via the frontline treatments for schizophrenia (e.g. medication, social skills training, cognitive-behavioral therapy). Social cognition is a promising treatment target in this regard as it may be more strongly related to social functioning outcomes than traditional neurocognitive domains [Couture, S., Penn, D.L., Roberts, D.L., 2006. The functional significance of social cognition in schizophrenia: a review. Schizophrenia Bulletin (Suppl. 1), S-44-63]. Social cognition and interaction training (SCIT) is a 20-week, manualized, group treatment designed to improve social functioning in schizophrenia by way of improved social cognition. This article reports preliminary data from a quasi-experimental study comparing SCIT + treatment as usual (TAU; n=20) to TAU alone (n=11) among outpatients. Results using analysis of variance (ANOVA) suggest SCIT-related improvements in emotion perception and social skill.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Penn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D010045:Outpatients; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012938:Social Perception; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult