The purpose of this study was to test the effect of reality-oriented social skills training on acquisition, durability and generalization of communication skills in schizophrenics, as compared with the existing behavioral social skills training.
Beha...
The purpose of this study was to test the effect of reality-oriented social skills training on acquisition, durability and generalization of communication skills in schizophrenics, as compared with the existing behavioral social skills training.
Behavioral social skills training is based on social learning theory, and the information processing and problem solving strategies were added in training process for compensation of cognitive deficits of schizophrenics. Reality-oriented social skills training includes the strategies of reality therapy targeting to stimulate the learning motivation of people with schizophrenia and to apply the learned skills to real-life suitably, then to maintain over time.
Subjects were 18 schizophrenia patients using Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center. Two groups, of which 9 persons with reality-oriented social skills training, and 9 persons with behavioral social skills training, participated in the experiment. Training was provided in a total of ten training sessions twice a week.
During the pre, post and follow test periods of programs each behavior of role playing was videotaped to assess the improvement and durability of communication skills with the social skills scale. In vivo behaviors of subjects in facility were monitored and evaluated to assess the generalization of communication skills by the professionals according to the relationship skills scale.
The results of this study are as follows: First, the verbal and non-verbal communication skill of reality-oriented social skills training group were improved more in comparison to behavioral social skills training group. Second, learned skills in reality-oriented social skills training group was maintained more longer than those of behavioral social skills training group. In even reality-oriented social skills training group, however, non-verbal communication skills decreased as time passed by. Third, learned skills in reality-oriented social skills training group were generalized in real-life more easier than those of behavioral social skills training group.
In conclusion, teaching only behavior skills to schizophrenics is not enough to improve their communication skills, to maintain those effects longer, and to make possible to generalize learning skills to a new situation better. Besides teaching behavior skills, it requires that reality therapy strategies be included in social skills training program to make choice of behavior through recognizing own needs and the other's ones, to monitor and evaluate whether needs are satisfied. Such a training strategy will enhance the motivation to changing behaviors, so it can be more efficient to maintain learned skill and generalize it in various situations.
In addition, these result shows needing longer training program in order to improve, maintain and generalize learned skills, and suggest that the follow up sessions addressing individual relationship have to be added.