F58. COMMUNITY-BASED MULTI-SITE RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF BEHAVIORAL ACTIVATION FOR NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC SCHIZOPHRENIA

• Published in: Schizophrenia bulletin 2018-04, Vol.44 (suppl_1), p.S242-S242
• Main Authors: Lee, Eunbyeol, Cha, Yun-Ji, Oh, Ji-Hye, Hwang, Na-Ri, Choi, Kee-Hong, Seo, Ho-Jun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abstracts
• ISSN: 0586-7614; 1745-1701
• DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sby017.589

Abstract Background As existing treatments for negative symptoms in schizophrenia have limited empirical support, development of effective treatments for negative symptoms in schizophrenia is in urgent need. Behavioral activation (BA), which is an evidence-based treatment for depression, is a promising candidate treatment for negative symptoms as it proved its feasibility and preliminary efficacy in non-randomized controlled trial for community dwelling individuals with chronic schizophrenia (Choi et al., 2015; Mairs et al., 2011). The primary purpose of the current study was to investigate whether BA would improve negative symptoms as compared with treatment as usual (TAU) for community dwelling individuals with chronic schizophrenia in a multi-site randomized controlled trial. In addition, we explored whether BA would improve other psychiatric symptoms, quality of life and neuro-cognitive functioning. Methods For multi-site trials, mental health professionals were trained with BA manual (Choi et al., 2015) and their fidelity was checked by the authors. BA was delivered in a group format once a week for 10 weeks. Participants aged 18 years or older were recruited from community mental health centers and day hospitals in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do area. A total of seventy-two patients with negative symptoms of schizophrenia were randomly assigned into either BA+TAU or TAU. As a primary outcome, negative symptoms were measured using clinical interviews (e.g., BNSS, CAINS, PANSS negative symptoms factor) and self-report questionnaires (i.e., MAP-SR) before and after the 10-week treatments. The secondary outcome measures included other psychiatric symptoms, quality of life, and neuro-cognitive assessment. Results BA was well accepted by community dwelling individuals with chronic schizophrenia (drop-out rates of BA+TAU and TAU, 10% and 14%, respectively). Intention-to-treat analyses indicated that compared to TAU condition, BA+TAU group showed greater improvement in negative symptoms, as measured by CAINS, BNSS, and PANSS negative symptom factor (Time*Group interaction effects, F=7.476, p