The Effects of Art Therapy and Psychosocial Skills Training on Symptoms and Social Functioning in Patients with Schizophrenia and Their Relatives

Objective: The effects of antipsychotics on negative symptoms are limited. The most appropriate approach in the treatment of schizophrenia is the integration of drug therapy with psychological and social interventions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of art therapy and psychosocial skills training in the treatment of schizophrenia. A total of 15 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and 12 patient relatives were included. 90-minute sessions were carried out once a week for 17 weeks. There was a significant decrease in negative symptoms and general psychopathology in both groups. The findings suggest that art therapy and psychosocial skills training have positive effects on the improvement of negative symptoms as well as improvements in social and cognitive functionality in schizophrenia.