Recent developments in psychosocial treatments for schizophrenic patients

Abstract

Pessimistic views regarding the course and outcome of schizophrenia have been replaced by an emphasis on recovery. The concept of recovery emphasizes the need to provide access to treatments and services that are effective in both decreasing manifestations of the disorder and in assisting individuals to lead maximally productive and personally meaningful lives. To this end, the schizophrenia Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) published an updated consensus list of evidence-based practices that includes 14 recommendations, six of which describe psychosocial treatments (family interventions, supported employment, assertive community treatment, skills training, cognitive therapy and token economy programs). This paper reviews the schizophrenia PORT committee recommendations for psychosocial evidence-based practices, and discusses future needs and potential confounds that can have an impact on the effectiveness of these approaches. Among these potential confounds, the heterogeneity of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, variations in quality and integrity of implementation and the degree to which services listed are truly accessible and available as needed are paramount. The PORT psychosocial recommendations are an excellent foundation in the process of identifying evidence-based practices that can foster social recovery; they are not a comprehensive list. More innovation and research on psychosocial therapies remains to be accomplished in order to improve the chances for social recovery of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Keywords::

• community treatment
• evidence-based practices
• recovery
• schizophrenia
• Patient Outcomes Research Team recommendations