Graded group procedures for long term regressed schizophrenics

It has been suggested that a graded sequence of treatments might be the most efficacious approach to the rehabilitation of the regressed schizophrenic. To date, however, no research has been reported which examines the relative effectiveness of various treatment combinations with this difficult population. The present study is an investigation of the relative effectiveness of three treatment sequences in increasing social interaction among long term regressed schizophrenics. In this study, 32 chronic schizophrenic patients were randomly assigned to one of three treatment sequences or to a control group. Each sequence began with six sessions of remotivation group therapy. Following, this, one group participated in four sessions of activities, another had social living discussions, and a third continued with remotivation therapy. Both the remotivation-activities sequence and the remotivation-only sesequence significantly increased social interaction relative to the remotivation-social living sequence and thecontrol group. Therefore it appears that both the activities groups and the remotivation groups are effective early components of a graded treatment program to increase social interaction among withdrawn schizophrenics.