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Status
Completed 27 July 2003

Created
2 November 2009

Last updated
2 November 2009

Can recovery-focused multimodal psychotherapy facilitate symptom and function improvement in people with treatment-resistant psychotic illness? A comparison study

Investigator(s) / AuthorsPatte Randal, Alexander I.F. Simpson & Tannis Laidlaw

 
Principal contact
Name Dr Patte Randal
Email PatteR@adhb.govt.nz
The research
Summary To assess whether recovery-focused multimodal psychotherapy can facilitate symptom and function improvement in people with treatment-resistant psychotic illness.
Objectives To assess whether recovery-focused multimodal psychotherapy can facilitate symptom and function improvement in people with treatment-resistant psychotic illness.
Study design Nine people with treatment-resistant schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder whose symptoms and level of functioning necessitated inpatient care were engaged in individual multimodal psychotherapy for up to 21 months. In addition to the multimodal therapy they also received standard inpatient care. Twelve people retrospectively matched for diagnosis, age, sex, and chronicity of illness, formed a comparison group. They also received standard inpatient care. The standard inpatient care for both experimental and comparative groups consisted of custodial care, predominantly atypical antipsychotic drug therapy, and ongoing care from a key worker.
Methods Quantitative
Results The treatment group showed clinically significant improvements in the overall Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) scores which was significantly better than the changes found in the comparison group (p = 0.037). There was a 43% reduction in positive symptoms, a 30% reduction in negative symptoms, a 27.5% reduction in general psychopathology symptoms and a 30% reduction in overall scores on the PANSS. General behaviour scores on the Rehabilitation Evaluation of Hall and Baker were clinically improved, with a 32% reduction, as were deviant scores, with a 93.3% reduction. The change in the deviant scores was significantly better in the treatment group (p = 0.025).
Conclusions Recovery-focused multimodal psychotherapy may facilitate symptom and function improvement in people with treatment-resistant psychotic illness.
Key Descriptors Clinical Practice, Intervention/Treatment, Recovery
Disciplines Multi disciplinary
Settings Inpatient, DHB (District Health Board)
Diagnostic Categories Psychotic Disorders, Schizophrenia
Populations General Population
Other Keywords multimodal psychotherapy, recovery, treatment resistant schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder
Ethics approval Yes
Academic led No
Service led Yes
How were service users involved Participants of the research
Publication in peer review journal Yes
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Page last updated: 7 November 2008