A behavioural training programme for chronic schizophrenic patients. A three-month randomised controlled trial in...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Behavioral Science
• Nursing

Background:

• Chronic schizophrenia often involves persistent negative symptoms impacting daily functioning.
• In-patient rehabilitation programs are crucial for managing long-term psychiatric conditions.
• The role of psychiatric nurses in China is evolving towards therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-administered in-patient rehabilitation program for chronic schizophrenic patients.
• To assess the impact of life skills training, encouragement, and a token economy on negative symptoms.
• To explore the potential for enhancing the therapeutic role of psychiatric nurses.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 52 chronic schizophrenic in-patients with persistent negative symptoms.
• An experimental group received daily nurse-led training (life skills, encouragement, token economy).
• A control group received standard care without the specific behavioral intervention, with medication unchanged for both groups.

Main Results:

• Both groups showed a decrease in negative symptoms after three months.
• The experimental group exhibited significantly greater improvement in negative symptoms compared to the control group.
• Blind evaluators confirmed the differential improvement between the groups.

Conclusions:

• Behavioral interventions are effective in treating chronic schizophrenic in-patients in China.
• Nurse-led rehabilitation programs can significantly improve negative symptoms.
• The study underscores the importance of transitioning psychiatric nurses to therapeutic roles.