Speech and Language Therapies to Improve Pragmatics and Discourse Skills in Patients With Schizophrenia
Psychiatry Research
Joyal, M., Bonneau, A., et al. (2016).
Psychiatry Research, 240, 88-95.
This systematic review investigates the effects of speech and language treatment on the pragmatics and discourse skills in adults, 18 years and older, with schizophrenia.
Not stated
Up to December 2015
Published original studies (not further specified)
18
The included studies presented no clear evidence that cognitive remediation "leads to significant improvement in speech or language, and changes in social cognition or social skills appear inconsistent" (p. 92).
"From the eighteen studies reviewed here, twelve targeted pragmatic or discursive skills that are impaired in individuals with schizophrenia, and eleven of them showed an improvement. Five of these twelve studies also assessed pragmatics and/or discourse skills with follow up assessments. They all reported improvements that were maintained at follow-up assessment ranging from eight weeks to two years" (pp. 92-93). "Despite improved pragmatic and discourse skills with therapy, the strength of evidence should be considered with precaution and the need for more studies with follow-ups remains" (p. 93).
Eleven of the 14 studies examining individual treatment approaches and three out of the four studies examining group-based treatments yielded positive effects.
