Tarder et al studied two methods of psychosocial treatment over 3 months.55 In a 2-year follow-up study, they found that cognitive behavior therapy was not an improvement over counseling in achieving some degree of improvement in schizophrenic symptoms that do not respond to medication. However, the group that only received routine care worsened during the follow-up study.55 Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical There are numerous studies on this type of psychotherapy in schizophrenia, but more research must be done in order to reach more solid conclusions. Social skills training Social skills training is based on the learning theory, which assumes that social behavior

can be taught and learned. Certain social behaviors are broken down into their constituent parts, which are modeled and reinforced through feedback. When Smith et al trained a group of hospitalized patients, they found that 70% were coping with the demands of selleckchem community life 2 weeks after release – an achievement associated with the skills learned before release rather than with the symptoms.56 In patients

stabilized with fluphenazine, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Marder et al showed that training in social skills had Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical better results in achieving social adjustment than group therapy during an 18-month follow-up study.57 Vocational rehabilitation Vocational rehabilitation evaluates the patient’s skills and potential for working in a competitive job, and seeks to place the patient in a suitable activity with social and economic incentives. Less than 20% of schizophrenic patients hold a competitive Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical job.58 Bell

et al followed patients who were placed in jobs for 6 months; at 5 months they found that those who received a salary worked more hours, had fewer symptoms and rehospitalizations, and participated more in work activities than those who did not receive a salary.59 The family can be of great assistance in helping the patient find work.60 Affective disorders Today, the goals of treatment are to reduce and eliminate the signs and symptoms of depression, recover work and psychosocial functioning, and achieve and maintain Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical complete remission of symptoms.61 The treatment structure is threefold: an acute phase, followed by a continuation stage and, finally, a maintenance program. Symptoms are most likely to go into remission during the those acute phase; thus, every effort must be made to prescribe the antidepressant with the greatest therapeutic value, in optimal doses and with the fewest side effects. If necessary, combination or potentiation strategics arc used. After the 6- to 8-week acute stage, 25% to 35% of patients are in remission.62 A lack of complete remission or discontinuation of treatment increases the risk of relapse and recurrence. It has been emphasized that antidepressants should be taken for approximately 1 year in the dosage that was initially effective, and many patients stay on medication for a longer time to achieve better evolution of the illness.