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Functional adaptation skills training (FAST): a pilot psychosocial intervention study in middle-aged and older
Thomas L Patterson1, Christine McKibbin, Michael Taylor
1Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0680, USA. tpatterson@ucsd.edu
Objective:
Developing behavioral interventions to improve functioning of older patients with schizophrenia and other chronic psychoses has the potential to significantly increase the patients' independence and quality of life.
Methods:
The authors evaluated a psychosocial intervention designed to improve everyday living skills of middle-aged and older outpatients with very chronic psychotic disorders (mean duration of illness: 21 years). Forty patients who resided in board-and-care facilities were randomly assigned to either a 24-session functional adaptation skills training (FAST) group therapy program targeting problem areas identified in previous work as being problematic for this population (e.g., using public transportation) or treatment-as-usual. Almost all the participants also received antipsychotics.
Results:
Compared with the patients randomized to the treatment-as-usual condition, FAST-treated patients' performance on everyday living skills improved significantly immediately post-intervention and was still significantly better at a 3-month maintenance follow-up period. There was no significant change in psychopathology.
Conclusion:
Results suggest that older patients with longstanding psychotic disorders may benefit from participation in this skills-training program.