Social skills training modules in an intensive community support program

The authors describe a randomized control study that tested the effectiveness of social skills training modules as an adjunct to an assertive community treatment (ACT) program. Implementation of the modules in this context presented multiple logistic and organizational problems. Only 21 of the 42 demonstration clients completed all or part of one of two scheduled modules. Thus the modules were not effective because of characteristics of the modules themselves, the nature of the overall program, and the study design. An ACT/social skills-training alliance would be more likely to succeed if individually tailored interventions were used rather than or supplementing the curriculum-based modules.