A Review and Critique of Social Skills Training With Schizophrenic Patients

Research must be directed to determining the interaction between patient characteristics and training procedures as they affect outcome, and the scope of the procedures must be expanded if meaningful changes in patients' quality of life are to be effected.

Abstract

The literature dealing with social skills training of schizophrenic patients indicates that topographical features and self-reports of anxiety and discomfort can be changed for the better by social skills training. Unfortunately, these changes do not occur for every patient and, when they do occur, often do not generalize to new situations. Research must be directed to determining the interaction between patient characteristics and training procedures as they affect outcome. The scope of the procedures must also be expanded if meaningful changes in patients' quality of life are to be effected.