Evidence-Based Integrated Intervention in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Pilot Study of Feasibility and Effectiveness in a Real-World Rehabilitation Setting

Gabriele Nibbio, Stefano Barlati, Paolo Cacciani, Paola Corsini, Alessandra Mosca, Anna Ceraso, Giacomo Deste and Antonio Vita
Additional contact information
Gabriele Nibbio: Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25133 Brescia, Italy
Stefano Barlati: Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25133 Brescia, Italy
Paolo Cacciani: Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Spedali Civili, 25133 Brescia, Italy
Paola Corsini: Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Spedali Civili, 25133 Brescia, Italy
Alessandra Mosca: Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Spedali Civili, 25133 Brescia, Italy
Anna Ceraso: Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25133 Brescia, Italy
Giacomo Deste: Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Spedali Civili, 25133 Brescia, Italy
Antonio Vita: Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25133 Brescia, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-13

Abstract: Impairment in real-world functioning remains one of the most problematic challenges that people with schizophrenia have to face. Various psychosocial interventions have proven to be effective in promoting recovery and improving functioning in schizophrenia; however, their implementation and their effectiveness in routine rehabilitation practice are still objects of study. The present pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness on clinical and real-world outcomes of an integrated treatment protocol composed of stable pharmacological treatment, computer-assisted cognitive remediation and social skills training provided in a rehabilitation center. Predictors of functional improvement were also assessed. Seventy-two patients diagnosed with schizophrenia participated in the study. A significant ( p < 0.001) improvement in positive, negative and total symptoms, as well as in global clinical severity and real-world functioning outcomes was observed, with a large effect size in positive and total symptoms, global clinical severity and real-world functioning, and a moderate effect size on negative symptoms. Improvement in total symptoms ( p < 0.001) and in global clinical severity ( p = 0.007) emerged as individual predictors of functional improvement. These findings, although preliminary, suggest that an integrated, evidence-based treatment program is feasible and effective in a real-world rehabilitation context, and that similar interventions should be further implemented in everyday clinical practice.

Keywords: schizophrenia; psychosocial rehabilitation; real-world functioning; cognitive remediation; social skills training (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/10/3352/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/10/3352/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:10:p:3352-:d:356972

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().