Effect of Psychosocial Skills Training on Disease Symptoms, Insight, Internalized Stigmatization, and Social Functioning in Patients with Schizophrenia

Purpose: This study was performed for the purpose of determining the effect of psychosocial skills training (PSST) on disease symptoms, insight, internalized stigmatization, and social functioning in patients with schizophrenia. Design: One group pretest–posttest model. Method: The study was carried out with 25 outpatients who were diagnosed with schizophrenia. The PSST was given to three groups of eight to nine patients once a week in 24 sessions, each lasting 90-120 minutes for a period of 6 months. Findings: The program had significant results in schizophrenic patients in improving the level of symptoms, increasing the level of functioning, and coping with stigmatization. Conclusion: The PSST program, adjuvant to pharmacological treatments, can be considered as a significant modality in daily practice due to its effect on improving symptoms, insight, and level of functioning and decreasing internalized stigmatization. Clinical Relevances: PSST in patients with schizophrenia can contribute to the use of evidence-based education strategies in psychiatric nursing practice to improve coping skills with the disease. © 2015 Association of Rehabilitation Nurses