STRUCTURED GROUP WORK FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA - A COPING SKILLS APPROACH

Research regarding persons with schizophrenia has been a neglected are a in social work group research. This article describes the developmen t and testing of a structured group treatment. This experimental prete st-posttest treatment control study examines the effectiveness of grou p coping skills training (CST) in reducing relapse in persons with sch izophrenia CST involves training in time management, managing physiolo gical arousal cognitive restructuring, and social skills training. Res ults indicate that clients in CST had fewer hospitalizations, shorter hospital stays, and significantly better achievement of treatment goal s compared with clients in the treatment control group both at posttes t and at six-month follow-up.