ALPHA PSYCHIATRY
Original Articles

Psychosocial skill training applied to schizophrenia patients at community mental health center and the results

1.

Istanbul Meslek Hastaliklari Hastanesi, Maltepe, Istanbul

2.

Bakirkoy Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman Ruh Sagligi ve Sinir Hastaliklari Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi, Istanbul

3.

Uskudar Universitesi, Noropsikiyatri Hastanesi, Istanbul

Alpha Psychiatry 2017; 18: 121-128
DOI: 10.5455/apd.226040
Read: 1052 Downloads: 512 Published: 01 April 2017

Objective: Although the first choice for the treatment of schizophrenia is drugs, using merely the drugs is insufficient to treat schizophrenia. The main purpose of the study is to provide Psychosocial Skills Training (PSST) to a group of patients who have been treated and consulted by the Community Mental Health Center; and also to test the argued benefits of the treatment comparing the patients with a control group. Methods: Sixty patients who had been receiving regular outpatient treatment at Kucukcekmece Community Mental Health Center and who met the study criteria were chosen as the participants of the study. Both the study group and the control group were composed of 30 patients each, totally 60 patients. The PSST group was divided into three subgroups and the training was given in two sessions each of which lasted forty five minutes. Totally 18 sessions were conducted in approximately five months. The test battery was applied to both the study and the control groups by the researcher at the beginning and at the end of the study. In the test battery, the following tests were applied to the patients: Socio Demographic Data Form, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Calgary Schizophrenia Depression Scale (CSDS), Schedule for Assessing the Three Components of Insight (SATCI), Drug Treatment Compliance Rating Scale in Patients with Psychotic Disorders (DTCRS), Quality of Life Scale for Schizophrenia Patients (QLSSP), Social Functionality Scale (SFS). Results: When two groups were compared at the beginning and at the end of the study, significant difference was observed in negative symptoms sub-scale, general psycho-pathology sub-scale and PANSS total points. In the study group, the points of CSDS, SATCI, DTCRS, QLSSP, SFS improved/increased significantly after the training. Conclusion: For the treatment of chronic mental diseases such as schizophrenia, which is characterized by notable malfunctioning in the socialization and functionality of the patients, psychosocial approaches have become quite popular and agreed upon methods. Adding PSST to the treatment of schizophrenia patients whose routine policlinic follow-up activities were performed regularly has caused considerable improvement in psychopathologies, depression levels, insight, compliance, life qualities and functionalities of the patients. [Anadolu Psikiyatri Derg 2017; 18(2.000): 121-128]

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