Social skills training in the structure of psychosocial assistance to patients with paranoid schizophrenia who independently sought psychiatric help

Abstract

A comparative analysis of the medical and social characteristics of patients with paranoid schizophrenia who voluntarily sought psychiatric care was conducted in outpatient and inpatient settings. The identified nature of the focus and severity of social maladjustment made it possible to decide on the implementation of a specific type of psychosocial intervention in the form of social skills training and to formulate target and timelines for therapeutic and rehabilitative psychosocial interventions. The primary focus of social skills training was on rethinking deficiencies in social perception and interpersonal interactions, emotional self-regulation, and the inability to perform everyday habits, as well as the specifics and possible solutions to emerging problems with verbal and nonverbal socially acceptable behavior. The implementation of social skills training procedures resulted in significant improvements in personal and social functioning in this patient population.