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Introduction: Antipsychotic drugs are effective in relieving symptoms
in the treatment of schizophrenia, but decreased social functioning is
resistant to drugs. In this study, the effect of adjunct Psychosocial Skills
Training (PSST) on social functioning for schizophrenia patients who
receive service in the community mental health center (CMHC) was
investigated.
Method: Schizophrenia patients who received routine case management
and occupational therapy in CMHC (n=22), patients receiving PSST in
addition to CMHC service (n=21) and patients who were followed up
in the Psychotic Disorders Outpatient Clinic as control group (n=21),
three groups were formed. In the initial evaluations of the participants,
the sociodemographic data form was filled. Social functioning and
severity of clinical symptoms were evaluated at the beginning and at
end of three-month follow-up period with the Social Functionality Scale
(SFS), Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP), Positive and Negative
Syndrome Scale (PANSS).
Results: At the end of the follow-up period, there was a significant
decrease in PANSS total scores, a significant increase in PSP and SFS
total scores in the last test evaluations of the study groups. There was
not any statistically significant change in the control group. The decrease
in PANSS total score in PSST group is significantly higher than CMHC
group. There was no significant difference between PSP and SFS scores
between intervention groups.
Conclusion: The psychiatric rehabilitation in CMHC has a positive
effect on the social functioning and clinical symptoms of schizophrenic
patients. Adjunct PSST to routine service seems to help relieving clinical
symptoms.
Keywords: Schizophrenia, social functioning, psychosocial skills training,
community mental health center