Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training for Improving Social Functioning in People With Schizophrenia

Veterans Medical Research Foundation

Status: Completed

Conditions: Schizophrenia

Treatments: Behavioral: Social Skills Training; Behavioral: Goal Setting; Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training (CBSST); Behavioral: Goal-focused supportive contact (GFSC)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT00338975

R01MH071410 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

DSIR 83-ATAP

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study evaluated the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training versus goal-focused supportive contact in improving social functioning in people with schizophrenia.

Full description

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder. People with schizophrenia sometimes hear voices others don't hear, believe that others are broadcasting their thoughts to the world, or become convinced that others are plotting to harm them. These symptoms make it difficult for people with schizophrenia to interact normally and establish healthy social relationships with others. Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training (CBSST) is a group behavioral therapy intervention that focuses on improving cognitive and metacognitive impairments and social skills deficits that interfere with normal functioning in people with schizophrenia. Goal-focused supportive contact (GFSC) is a group therapy intervention that focuses on helping people with schizophrenia to verbalize their problems or worries and to seek advice from fellow group members. This study evaluated the effectiveness of CBSST versus GFSC in improving social functioning in people with schizophrenia. The study will assessed changes in cognition, psychotic symptoms, and use of psychiatric healthcare services.

Participants in this open label study were randomly assigned to one of the following treatment groups: treatment as usual (TAU) plus CBSST or TAU plus GFSC. Both interventions consist of 2-hour therapy sessions weekly for 36 weeks. Groups receiving each intervention do not exceed ten people. CBSST integrates cognitive therapy, social skills training, and neurocognitive compensatory aids. Cognitive therapy helps participants challenge unhelpful thoughts and build communication and problem-solving skills. Participants receive workbooks that describe the skills and contain homework assignments. GFSC focuses on empowering participants to share problems, worries, or concerns with others who face similar issues. Participants share advice with each other, but therapists do not teach skills. Outcomes were be assessed at Months 4.5, 9, 15, and 21 for all participants.

Enrollment: 179 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder at any stage of illness

Exclusion criteria

• Level of care required at baseline interferes with outpatient group therapy participation (e.g., partial or inpatient hospitalization for psychiatric illness, substance use, or physical illness)
• No case manager or care coordinator
• Medically or psychiatrically unstable for outpatient therapy
• Exposure to social skills training (SST), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) within 5 years prior to study entry

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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179 participants in 2 patient groups

1

Experimental group

Description:

Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training (CBSST)

Treatment:

Behavioral: Goal Setting

Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training (CBSST)

Behavioral: Social Skills Training

2

Active Comparator group

Description:

Goal-Focused Supportive Contact (GFSC)

Treatment:

Behavioral: Goal Setting

Behavioral: Goal-focused supportive contact (GFSC)