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.