Functional Skills Training For Late Life Schizophrenia

描述（由申请人提供）：尽管药理学改善 精神分裂症的治疗，病人仍然有困难， 在真实的世界中起作用（例如，药物管理，沟通 需要、建立社交网络、管理财务）。这些困难 可能与患有精神分裂症年龄的人（例如，物理 限制，认知障碍），从而使生活更加困难， 社会各界随着美国老年人的比例上升，S.几乎 爆炸，老年人患精神分裂症的比例也会爆炸， 造成心理健康和社会服务系统的流失， 为他们服务。目前缺乏关于有效性的研究， 精神分裂症患者的康复计划， 并在老年患者中进行了测试。因此，显然需要发展 对老年人缺陷敏感的有效康复方案 精神分裂症有效地促进更好的社会心理干预 症状管理、药物管理、日常生活技能，以及 心理社会功能特别重要，因为它们可以减少 老年精神分裂症患者需要住院治疗的机会， 长期护理，同时最大限度地减少医疗保健系统的负担。 该项目的目标是测试技能培训的有效性 功能性适应技能培训（FAST），旨在 增强老年精神分裂症患者的日常功能。我们将招收 200名60岁以上的社区居住患者随机进入一个预试验， 多重后测控制组设计研究。受试者将入组以下之一 两个时间相当的干预：实验性治疗，24个疗程组 针对6个功能技能领域的老年人干预设计 (i.e.,财务管理，社交技巧，沟通技巧， 运输、组织和规划以及药物管理）;或 心理安慰剂（一个友好的支持小组）。治疗后， 六次每月一次的维护会议。评估在6岁、12岁和 18-基线后月。拟议研究的一个独特之处是使用 基于绩效的结果测量，减少与缺乏相关的问题 在精神分裂症中很常见数据将使我们能够确定短期 我们干预的效果，维护会议的有效性，以及 干预后治疗效果的持续时间。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Despite improved pharmacological treatments for schizophrenia, patients continue to have difficulties functioning in the real world (e.g., medication management, communicating needs, establishing social networks, managing finances). These difficulties are likely compounded as persons with schizophrenia age (e.g., physical limitations, cognitive impairment), thus, making it more difficult to live in the community. As the proportion of older persons in the U. S. virtually explodes, so too will the proportion of older persons with schizophrenia, creating a drain on mental health and social service systems ill-equipped to serve them. There is a current paucity of studies on the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs for schizophrenia patients and none has been designed and tested with older patients. Thus, there is a clear need to develop effective rehabilitation programs sensitive to the deficits of older persons with schizophrenia. Psychosocial interventions which efficiently promote better symptom management, medication management, every day living skills, and psychosocial functioning are of particular importance in that they may reduce the chance that older patients with schizophrenia require hospitalization and long-term care while minimizing burden on health care systems. The goal of the proposed project is to test the efficacy of a skills training protocol, entitled Functional Adaptation Skills Training (FAST), designed to enhance daily functioning of older patients with schizophrenia. We will enroll 200 community dwelling patients over age 60 into a randomized, pretest, multiple posttest control group design study. Subjects will enroll in one of two time-equivalent interventions: Experimental treatment, a 24-session group intervention designed for older adults targeting 6 functional skill domains (i.e., financial management, social skills, communication skills, transportation, organization and planning, and medication management); or psychosocial placebo (a friendly support group). Treatment will be followed by six one-monthly maintenance sessions. Assessments are conducted at 6-, 12-, and 18-months post-baseline. A unique feature of the proposed study is the use of performance-based outcome measures which reduce problems associated with lack of insight common in schizophrenia. Data will allow us to determine short-term effects of our intervention, effectiveness of maintenance sessions, and post-intervention duration of treatment effects.