Psychosocial rehabilitation training in the treatment of schizophrenia outpatients: A randomized, psychosocial rehabilitation training–and monomedication-controlled study

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of psychosocial rehabilitation intervention on schizophrenia.

Methodology: One hundred forty schizophrenia outpatients in remission stage were randomized to either an antipsychotic monomedication (control group) or an antipsychotic monomedication plus a psychosocial rehabitation training (trial group). Positive and Negative syndrome Scale (PANSS), Disability Screening Schedule (SDSS) were performed longitudinally from baseline to month 18 to evaluate the efficacy.

Results: Significant difference in relapse rate between the control group (42.9%) and the trial group (18.6%) was found at month 18. In patients who didn’t relapse, the trial group showed significantly lower PANSS and SDSS score (P < 0.05) than did the control group after treatment.

Conclusion: Psychosocial rehabilitation intervention could produce a better outcome in terms of reducing relapse and improving the social functioning in schizophrenia.