Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT): Group Psychotherapy for Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders, Clinician Guide(Treatments That Work)

Impairments in social functioning are among the hallmark characteristics of schizophrenia. These deficits predict relapse rate and may be independent of better-studied symptoms such as hallucinations. Additionally, studies indicate that social functioning is one of the most important domains for individuals with schizophrenia, many of whom consider social functioning to be a key area of unmet need. Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) is a group psychotherapy for individuals with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Social cognition refers to the thinking processes that people use to navigate the social world. Deficits in social cognition hinder people with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses from living meaningful, socially connected lives. The SCIT Clinician Guide provides comprehensive instruction for mental health professionals to enhance social cognition and promote rewarding social lives for their clients. SCIT is appropriate for adults suffering from psychotic illness and who have interpersonal difficulties as a result. SCIT is particularly appropriate for individuals with symptoms of suspiciousness and paranoia. The authors summarize the rationale and theoretical underpinnings of SCIT, distinguish it from other treatments for psychosis, provide an overview of the intervention, explain the links between the intervention activities and the underlying theoretical model, and describe SCIT implementation session-by-session. SCIT is a 20- to 24-week group-based treatment that can be delivered by mental health clinicians of all levels in a wide range of community and hospital settings. SCIT uses exercises, games, discussion formats, and interactive social stimuli to target and improve specific areas of social cognitive dysfunction, and includes user-friendly tips and handouts for clients. It also provides web access to a library of videos, images and slide shows that are used to bring the SCIT training sessions to life.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 Introductory Information for Clinicians Chapter 2 Overview of SCIT and Implementation Notes Phase I Chapter 3 Sessions 1 & 2: Introduction Chapter 4 Session 3: Emotions and Social Situations (Optional) Chapter 5 Session 4: Defining Emotions Chapter 6 Session 5: Guessing People's Emotions Chapter 7 Session 6: Updating Emotion Guesses Chapter 8 Session 7: Suspicious Feelings Phase II Chapter 9 Session 8: Jumping to Conclusions Chapter 10 Sessions 9 & 10: Strategy 1 - Think Up Other Guesses Chapter 11 Sessions 11, 12, & 13: Strategy 2 -Separate Facts from Guesses Chapter 12 Sessions 14 & 15: Strategy 3 - Gather More Evidence Phase III Chapter 13 Sessions 16 - 20: Checking-It-Out Appendix A Descriptions of Video and Photograph Stimuli Appendix B Homework Activities and Handouts Appendix C Practice Partner Handouts Appendix D SCIT Fidelity Scale References About the Authors

About the Author :
David L. Roberts, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He specializes in the treatment of social dysfunction among people with schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. David L. Penn, PhD, is the Linda Wagner-Martin Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. His research is focused on social cognition and psychosocial treatment for schizophrenia. Dennis R. Combs, PhD, is an Associate Professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Tyler. He is also a licensed clinical psychologist in Texas. His research has primarily focused on understanding, characterizing, and remediating the various social cognitive deficits found in schizophrenia and paranoia.

Review :
"This book is a gem. The SCIT program has been rigorously studied in extensive research. The manual is clearly written and easy to follow. This book is a must-read for all clinicians who are working to improve the lives of people with serious mental illness. It is destined to become a classic." --Kim T. Mueser, PhD, Executive Director, Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, and Professor, Departments of Occupational Therapy, Psychology, and Psychiatry, Boston University "Problems in social cognition are one of the main causes of functional disability for people with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Roberts, Penn, and Combs have been pioneers in developing an innovative psychosocial treatment program that helps affected individuals improve the social cognitive skills that are required to thrive in daily life. In their clearly written and accessible book, they describe the rationale and therapeutic principles of Social Cognition and Interaction Training, and provide step-by-step guidance for clinicians to effectively implement it. This book will provide an essential resource for clinicians to help their clients to achieve richer, more satisfying functional recoveries." --William P. Horan, PhD, Research Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA "This well-written, timely, and important book provides a comprehensive guide to implementing an evidence-based practice for improving social cognition in schizophrenia, Social Cognition Interaction Training (SCIT). This intervention has been systematically developed and studied at multiple sites internationally. Now, for the first time, all resources necessary to conduct this effective and recovery-oriented intervention are made available, in a user-friendly format, written by the group that developed the intervention." --Steven M. Silverstein, PhD, Director, Division of Schizophrenia Research, Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, and Professor of Psychiatry, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School