Negative symptoms of schizophrenia have a severe impact on functional outcomes and current treatment options are limited and group activity therapy was identified as the most common type of therapy with justified claims to reduce negative symptoms. Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of group activity therapy program to enhance negative symptoms among patients with schizophrenia. Design: A quasi experimental design was used to achieve the aim of the study. Setting: This study was conducted at the Psychiatric Mental Health Hospital in Benha City, Qalubia Governorate, which is affiliated to General Secretariat of Mental Health in Egypt. Subject: A convenience sample of 66
schizophrenic patients was included from the above setting for the conduction of this study. This sample was divided into two matched groups into study group and control group. Tools: Two tools were used. Tool 1- structured interview questionnaire that was used to collect data about socio demographic and clinical characteristics of the studied subjects. Tool 2- Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) was used to measure negative symptoms among the studied sample. Result: the study revealed that after 13 sessions of group activity therapy, study group patients had significant improvement in their negative symptom scores (SANS total score, affective flattening or blunting, alogia, avolition – apathy, anhedonia – asociality, and attention) than before activity therapy program implementation. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that group activity therapy is highly effective in enhancement of negative symptoms among patients with schizophrenia. Results strongly suggest that group activity therapy should be embedded in the daily clinical routine. Recommendations: Group activity therapy should be a part of the patient’s usual care in all psychiatric and mental health hospitals. |
