Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training (CBSST) is a program for middle-aged and older outpatients with chronic schizophrenia. The program teaches cognitive and behavioral coping techniques, social functioning skills, problem-solving, and compensatory aids for neurocognitive impairments. Consisting of 24 to 36 weeks of 2-hour group psychotherapy sessions (1 session per week), CBSST targets the range of multidimensional deficits that can lead to disability in middle-aged and older people with schizophrenia. The social skills training component is based on modules for symptom management, communication role-play, and problem-solving social skills developed by Psychiatric Rehabilitation Consultants, a group of clinicians and researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles. The cognitive behavioral training component of CBSST was specifically developed for patients with schizophrenia. The compensatory aids are designed to address the cognitive impairment associated with both aging and schizophrenia. The program incorporates modifications specific to this target population, such as identifying and challenging ageist beliefs (e.g., "I'm too old to learn"), age-relevant role-play situations (e.g., talking to a doctor about eyeglasses), and age-specific problem-solving (e.g., finding transportation, coping with hearing and vision problems).
Goal / Mission
The goal of this program is to reduce disability in middle-aged and older people with schizophrenia.
Impact
At the end of treatment, CBSST participants had significantly greater cognitive insight scores, indicating more objectivity in reappraising psychotic symptoms relative to treatment as usual. At 1-year follow-up, participants in CBSST showed greater skill acquisition and significant improvements in social functioning relative to participants receiving treatment as usual.
Results / Accomplishments
At 1-year follow-up, participants in CBSST showed significant improvements in social functioning relative to participants receiving treatment as usual, t = 2.01, p = 0.05, d = 0.50. However, no differences between CBSST and treatment as usual were found in participants' capacity to perform basic everyday activities as measured by the UPSA.
At the end of treatment, CBSST participants had significantly greater cognitive insight scores, indicating more objectivity in reappraising psychotic symptoms relative to treatment as usual, f = 9.91, p < 0.01. However, this was not maintained at 1-year follow-up.
At the end of treatment, CBSST participants showed significantly greater skill acquisition than participants receiving treatment as usual, F = 34.78, p < 0.01. This gain was maintained at 1-year follow-up, t = 2.10, p < 0.05.
At the end of treatment, CBSST participants had significantly greater cognitive insight scores, indicating more objectivity in reappraising psychotic symptoms relative to treatment as usual, f = 9.91, p < 0.01. However, this was not maintained at 1-year follow-up.
At the end of treatment, CBSST participants showed significantly greater skill acquisition than participants receiving treatment as usual, F = 34.78, p < 0.01. This gain was maintained at 1-year follow-up, t = 2.10, p < 0.05.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
University of California, San Diego and VA San Diego Healthcare System
Primary Contact
Topics
Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders
Organization(s)
University of California, San Diego and VA San Diego Healthcare System
Source
SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP)
Date of publication
Nov 2006
Location
San Diego, CA
For more details
Target Audience
Adults