The effect of occupational therapy on negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, schizophrenia is one of the most important disabling mental disorders in the world. Regarding to occupational therapy as one of the most essential treatment for this disorder, the main aim of this study is to determine the effect of it on negative symptoms of schizophrenias patients. METHODS: This study is a clinical trials research and the samples were 84 schizophrenia patients of psychiatric ward of Farabi hospital in Isfahan. Sampling method was convenient and the samples were divided in to two interventional and control group randomly. The data collecting tool was scale for assessment of negative symptoms (SANS) and analyzing was performed by T-test, Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: Findings showed that occupational therapy activities decrease the mean of significant differences of negative symptoms of schizophrenia such as flat affect, mutism, apathy, dissocial, loss of attention and the mean of significant difference in two groups, revealed a significant statistics difference in both at the beginning and the end of this study. DISCUSSION: Because occupational therapy and its related activities has an effective role on the symptoms of schizophrenia patients, rehabilitation is suggested in different field of treatment so that patients can get appropriate self respect and as well as a good level of social interactions. KEY WORDS: Occupational therapy, schizophrenia, negative symptoms.