TITLE:
Effects of combination pharmacotherapy and social skills training for schizophrenia: A randomized controlled trial
AUTHORS:
Eiko Shimada, Nobuo Anzai, Emi Ikebuchi, Shin-Ichi Niwa, Masahisa Nishizono
KEYWORDS:
Schizophrenia; Social Skills Training; Randomized Controlled Trail; Cognitive Function; Risperidone
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Psychiatry,
Vol.3 No.3,
June
26,
2013
ABSTRACT: Pharmaco-psychosocial treatment (PPST) refers to a treatment paradigm combining pharmacotherapy with
psychosocial therapy. We conducted an 18-month randomized controlled tracking study
to evaluate the efficacy of social skills training (SST) in 11 individuals with
schizophrenia on risperidone monotherapy. They were randomized to either SST or
non-SST group, and Global Assessment Functioning (GAF) and Brief Psychiatric
Rating Scale (BPRS) scores in the 2 groups showed gradual improvement. In the
SST group, Digit Span Distraction Test (DSDT) at 12 and 18 months showed
significant improvement. The Subjective Deficit Syndrome Scale (SDSS) scores in
the SST group showed significant improvement after 6 months and showed a
significant difference in comparison between the groups. After the subjective
feeling of health was recovered, the items of motivation were recovered as a
direct effect of SST. Some items of the Life Assessment Scale for the Mentally
Ill (LASMI) score showed significant improvement (or significant trend) in only
the SST group after 6 months. Items of daily life, work skills, and self-recognition
were continuously improved. We report 2 cases in the SST group that had DSDT improvement
in parallel with change of action and communication as a change of social
function. This study is only exploratory due to the small number of cases.
However, we have demonstrated potential improvement in cognitive function due
to learning experiences that required working memory and attention, thus
providing improvement in social life.