Comparison of efficacy of social skills training for deficit and nondeficit negative symptoms in schizophrenia

Objective: The purpose of this pilot study was to compare the efficacy of social skills training for individuals with schizophrenia who did or did not have the deficit syndrome. Method: Three subjects with the deficit syndrome and three with nondeficit negative symptoms received 12 weeks of social skills training. Social skills and negative symptoms were evaluated before and after training and at 6-month follow-up. Results: Patients with schizophrenia who did not have the deficit syndrome demonstrated significantly better social skills and lower negative symptoms both after training and at follow-up than did those who had the deficit syndrome. Conclusions: Schizophrenic patients with nondeficit negative symptoms appear amenable to intensive social skills training, but schizophrenic patients with the deficit syndrome may have significant deficits in skill acquisition.