Efficacy of Task Centered Group Work Intervention in Schizophrenia Patients

Abstract

Background: Task centered group work is an empirically validated and widely acknowledged problem-solving model of social work that has been applied on variety of client groups across various geographical areas. However, in Indian setting such interventions are deplorably inadequate. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of task centered group work intervention on schizophrenia patients in bringing down their sensed psychopathology. Materials and methods: Thirty schizophrenia patients diagnosed as per ICD-10 DCR by treating psychiatrist were purposively enrolled from RINPAS outpatients department (OPD) and were shared into two groups of consisting of 15 in each group, viz. experimental and control groups. Task centered group work was administered only to the experimental group on twice monthly basis for six months. Pre and post assessments were done using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale in both the groups. Results: Majority of the subjects who received task centered group work intervention reported substantial improvement in their perceived psychopathology as compared to subjects in the control group who did not receive such intervention. Conclusion: Task centered group work intervention was effective in significantly reducing the perceived psychopathology in schizophrenia patients.