Institutional-based rehabilitation training improves rehabilitation and quality of life for patients with schizophrenia in community

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effects of institutional-based rehabilitation training on the rehabilitation and quality of life for patients with schizophrenia in community. Methods An institutional-based rehabilitation program for schizophrenia patients Sunny Garden was implemented by Shanghai Mental Health Center. One hundred and sixty eight patients with schizophrenia were enrolled and randomly assigned into training group (n=83) and control group (n=85); 8 patients dropped off, there were 80 cases in each group by the end of the study. Patients in training group received institutional-based training for 6 months, including rehabilitation training courses and family education; while patients in control group received conventional management in community. Insight and Treatment Attitude Questionnaire (ITAQ), Positive and negative symptom scale (PANSS), Personal and Social Performance scale (PSP) and Chinese Version of the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale (SQLS) were applied for assessment before and after study in both groups. Results There were no significant differences in ITAQ, PANSS, PSP and SQLS between two groups before intervention(t=0.59, P=0.56; t=1.21, P=0.23; t=1.08, P=0.28; t=-1.41, P=0.16, respectively). After intervention, these indicators in the training group were significantly superior to those in control group(t=3.07, P=0.03; t=-2.25, P=0.03; t=2.60, P=0.01; t=-3.24, P<0.01, respectively). Conclusion The institutional-based rehabilitation training program can effectively promote the rehabilitation of patients with schizophrenia in community and improve their quality of life. Key words: Rehabilitation; Schizophrenia; Quality of life