There is fair (2b) level evidence that living skills training is effective at improving independence in food preparation, money management, personal possessions, and efficacy, in adults with persistent schizophrenia

Prepared by:

Jane Healey (Email: janie_healey@yahoo.com)
4th year undergraduate occupational therapy student,
University of Western Sydney

Date:

May 2004

Review Date:

May 2006

Clinical Question:

What is the evidence that skills training is more effective than other psychosocial occupational therapy interventions, for increasing independence in living skills, in adults with schizophrenia?

Clinical Scenario:

Skills training is a commonly used occupational therapy intervention for people with schizophrenia. Essentially, it involves training patients in basic conversation skills, recreation for leisure, medication management, and symptoms management. What is the effectiveness of this intervention for improving independent living skills, and is it more effective than other psychosocial occupational therapy interventions?

Clinical Bottom Line:

Skills training has been found to have a statistically significant effect on improving independence, over a two year period, in the living skills of; personal possessions (p=0.03), food preparation (p=0.05), money management (p=0.03), and life distress adaptation (efficacy, p=0.02), in adults with persistent schizophrenia, compared to psychosocial occupational therapy, with fair (2b) level of evidence. However, this study did not consider clinical significance or clinical importance, which limits the value of this RCT

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