Social-Skills Training for Spanish-Speaking Persons With Schizophrenia: Experiences From Latin America, Spain, and the United States
American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Valencia, M., Moriana, J. A., et al. (2015).
American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 18(3), 209-246.
This systematic review investigates the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of social skills training for Spanish-speaking individuals with schizophrenia.
Not stated
1983 to 2013
Published studies categorized as: randomized controlled trial, matched controlled design, or pre-post empirical evaluation of a case series
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Overall, adapted social skills training (SST) demonstrated greater clinical benefits (e.g., better social/community functioning) for Spanish-speaking individuals with schizophrenia living in different regions of the world (i.e., Latin America, Spain, United States) as compared to customary services. Adaptations to SST addressed the individual's cultural norms, social class, values, and group/family dynamics. In Latin American studies, SST groups included more discussion of participants' problems, fears, symptoms, and concerns as compared to the U.S. groups that focused more on strengths and goals. Studies based in Spain included more home-based skills training to reduce the stigma of mental health support. Incorporating family members into the SST process also benefited outcomes. The authors conclude "when the reconfiguring of these interventions is done sensitively, without violating fidelity to the key, effective components of the interventions, there is growing evidence that patients from other cultures and countries can benefit from participating in treatment programs that were initially designed elsewhere" (p. 239).
