Social skills training with schizophrenics: a meta-analytic evaluation.

A meta-analytic review of 27 studies on social skills training with schizophrenics was conducted to address 3 critical issues in the literature: (a) the magnitude of treatment effects relative to different outcome measures; (b) the extent of the generalization and maintenance of treatment effects; and (c) the impact of 2 methodological issues: diagnostic clarity and training variations. Social skills training has a strong, positive impact on behavioral measures of social skill, self-rated assertiveness, and hospital discharge rate, and a moderate impact on relapse rate. In addition, when behavioral measures are used, the data support generalization and maintenance of skill gains. However, effects are only marginally significant for broader ratings of symptoms and functioning. Diagnostic homogeneity, the number of techniques used, and the amount of training do not appear to be significantly associated with outcome. Specific directions for future research are discussed.