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Social skills training with schizophrenics: a meta-analytic evaluation
1Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Ohio 44242.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
|December 1, 1990
Summary
Social skills training significantly improves social skills and reduces hospitalizations for individuals with schizophrenia. Gains are maintained and generalized when measured behaviorally, but effects on broader symptoms are less clear.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Schizophrenia treatment often focuses on symptom reduction.
- Social deficits are a core challenge in schizophrenia.
- Social skills training (SST) is a potential intervention for these deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To meta-analytically review the effectiveness of social skills training for schizophrenia.
- To assess treatment effects across various outcome measures.
- To examine the generalization and maintenance of SST effects and methodological impacts.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis of 27 studies on social skills training in schizophrenic populations.
- Analysis of treatment effects based on outcome measures (behavioral, self-rated, clinical).
- Evaluation of generalization, maintenance, diagnostic clarity, and training variations.
Main Results:
- SST shows strong positive effects on behavioral social skills, assertiveness, and hospital discharge rates.
- Moderate positive impact observed on relapse rates.
- Effects are marginally significant for broader symptom and functioning ratings.
- Generalization and maintenance of skills are supported by behavioral measures.
Conclusions:
- Social skills training is an effective intervention for improving social functioning in schizophrenia, particularly when using behavioral outcomes.
- The generalization and maintenance of skills are evident.
- Methodological factors like diagnostic clarity and training variations did not significantly impact outcomes.