Preventing cognitive decline in chronic schizophrenia: Long-term effectiveness of integrated psychological therapy and emotional management training.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Effective group psychological therapies in the chronic phases of schizophrenia are rare. This paper describes the results of testing a group therapy that includes integrated psychological therapy (IPT) together with an adaptation of emotional management therapy (EMT), delivered in a sample of outpatients with chronic schizophrenia. METHOD: 42 patients received the psychological intervention during eight months and they were assessed at baseline, posttreatment and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up. RESULTS: The program was well accepted, and there was only one dropped out during the therapy and 2 hospital admissions during the 20 months of contact with patients along the study. Improvements were observed in cognition, social functioning, and quality of life after the treatment, and these results were maintained to the long-term follow-up. To summarize, patients were better 12 months after the treatment than in baseline. CONCLUSION: the integrative psychological program applied was effective and it was well accepted and could be used in public mental health services as a protective factor, reducing hospitalizations, preventing cognitive decline, helping patients to manage their daily worries and making them feel more supported.