Improving Real-world Function for Persons with Schizophrenia: a Single-case Experimental Design

Improving Real-world Function for Persons with Schizophrenia (ImproFunc): a Single-case Experimental Design

Existing treatment for individuals with psychosis primarily targets positive symptoms but has only modest effects on cognition and negative symptoms. Cognitive strategy training shows promising effects in reducing negative symptoms and increasing activity initiation in individuals with schizophrenia.

This project aims to investigate the effect of the Perceive, Recall, Plan and Perform (PRPP) intervention in promoting effective use of cognitive strategies for adults with schizophrenia in performing their daily activities. Twenty-seven individuals with schizophrenia will be recruited from Sykehuset Innlandet (Innlandet Hospital Trust) and assessed using PRPP prior to an eight-session PRPP intervention. Re-assessment will be conducted after the intervention, as well as at 3 and 6 months, to evaluate the long-term effects of the intervention. A single-case design will be used to investigate the intervention's effects. The primary outcome measure will be the PRPP assessment, and the secondary outcome measure will be the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS). Generalization measures will be used to evaluate whether there are relevant changes beyond the primary and secondary goals.

Inclusion Criteria:

• DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia, understand and speak Norwegian, live in their own community context, but are patients in Sykehuset Innlandet ( Innlandet Hospital Trust), either as outpatients or on discharge from inpatient care, a subjective experience of functional impairment and/or cognitive difficulties identified in an initial interview, and a stable state without any major medication change for at least two months before inclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

• Major physical disability, a current substance abuse problem, and cognitive deficits of organic origin or mental retardation